News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The project Together for Green Advocacy for Environmental Protection (ZZZ) was formally launched with the thematic forum “From Diversity to Justice – Equal Right to a Healthy and Sustainable Environment for All”, held at Europe House Skopje on 20 June. Led by the Center for Youth Activism KRIK, the Center for Social Initiative NADEZH, and
Read more →The recent Civic Space Hackathon, organized by BCSDN in Skopje, successfully united civic activists, tech experts, legal professionals, communicators, and web designers from across the Western Balkans to develop innovative solutions for a more resilient civil society. Addressing critical challenges like eroding public trust from smear campaigns and disinformation, and undermined independence due to restrictive
Read more →The civil society landscape in the Western Balkans is facing unprecedented challenges, a critical issue highlighted at the 13th POINT Conference held in Sarajevo on May 29-30. Toshe Zafirov, BCSDN’s Communications and Advocacy Officer, represented the network at the conference, discussing a pressing topic: “Civil Society Between a Rock and a Hard Place—How to Navigate
Read more →The European Commission has launched public consultations on the upcoming EU Civil Society Strategy, to be open for input from 13 June to 5 September 2025. The EU Civil Society Strategy will provide a comprehensive framework for action at EU and Member State level, aimed to protect, empower, and strengthen engagement with civi society. The
Read more →Europe is experiencing a dangerous rollback of civic freedoms, in a context where the promise of universal rights and democratic values, enshrined in the EU treaties, is being steadily eroded by interconnected economic, social, cultural, and political factors. The European Civic Forum, in its latest Civic Space Report, documents an “unprecedented and intensified attack” on
Read more →Skopje was the backdrop for the third convention of the Engaged Democracy Initiative (EDI), where nearly 100 activists, journalists, and changemakers converged from across the Western Balkans. Hosted by the European Fund for the Balkans (EFB) from 21-23 May, the event carried the theme “Engage, Inspire, Empower!” and tackled pressing regional issues, including environmental degradation,
Read more →Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina – The civil society landscape in the Western Balkans is facing unprecedented challenges, a critical issue highlighted at the 13th POINT…
Read more →The triple nexus discourse—linking humanitarian, development, and peace efforts—has emerged in response to a world marked by escalating conflict, widespread fragility, and increasing humanitarian needs. Today, one quarter of the global population lives in fragile contexts, and signs of fragility are becoming evident in more countries than ever before. Observers warn that no country is
Read more →Civic space in the Western Balkans and Türkiye is under threat. Governments are enacting restrictive laws, silencing media, and using financial and legal pressure to marginalize civil society. Protest rights are curtailed, defamation is criminalized, and SLAPP lawsuits target activists and journalists. With public funding scarce and politically controlled, independent CSOs struggle to operate, leaving
Read more →As civic space across Europe faces increasing pressure, understanding how EU law can be used to defend fundamental rights and civil society’s operating environment has become more crucial than ever. EU law provides important tools to protect fundamental rights and safeguard space for civil society, rooted in the EU’s founding values—human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality,
Read more →Hungary has become the first EU member state to ban and criminalize a Pride march, marking a significant escalation in its clampdown on civil liberties. Authorities not only prohibited the peaceful demonstration, but also launched investigations into organizers and deployed facial recognition technology to track and fine attendees—raising serious concerns about fundamental rights violations. The
Read more →In the context of the challenges faced by today’s EU democracies, the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU proposed drafting to prepare a set of conclusions on strengthening EU democratic resilience. Despite broad support to the text in the General Affairs Council, the Ministers did not reach a consensus on the document. The
Read more →
