News and updates from BCSDN and the region
A recently published recording has revealed alleged backroom deals to silence independent media in Serbia, intensifying concerns over the country’s media freedom. The private conversation, exposed by OCCRP and KRIK, suggests political pressure to remove Aleksandra Subotić, the executive director of United Media, which owns critical broadcasters N1 and Nova S. This incident follows a
Read more →The European Commission is preparing the first-ever EU Civil Society Strategy, a framework that will set the direction for how the Union protects, funds, and engages with civil society in the years to come. BCSDN prepared a contribution to the EC’s Call for Evidence on the Strategy, underlining one overarching principle: the EU must apply
Read more →The Council of Europe’s Steering Committee on Democracy (CDDEM) has opened a public consultation on draft parameters for implementing the Reykjavik Principles for Democracy, adopted at the 2023 Reykjavik Summit. The text builds on Council of Europe standards in democracy, human rights and the rule of law, aiming to help member states and stakeholders identify
Read more →A new Brussels Liaison Office was inaugurated on 28 August 2025, marking a strategic expansion of FRA’s presence in the EU capital. The office aims to deepen collaboration with EU institutions, Member States’ Permanent Representations, umbrella civil society organisations, and other Brussels-based stakeholders. Its establishment will enable more timely input, stronger stakeholder engagement, and enhanced
Read more →The Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) has expressed deep concern over violence during nationwide protests in Serbia on August 13, 2025. Demonstrations in over 30 cities, including Belgrade and Novi Sad, were met with excessive force, with reports of physical assaults, chemical agents, and the deployment of the military unit “Kobre.” Over 60 people,
Read more →According to the South East European Network for Professionalization of Media (SEENPM) Regional Overview, the crisis of media and journalism in the Western Balkans and Turkey continues, and the concerns for the future of our media and our democracies abound. The main issues arise from the insecure position of journalists, who face poor socioeconomic conditions,
Read more →The rise in media outlets across the Western Balkans suggests increased pluralism but is marred by growing ownership by influential business figures. An increasing number of media outlets in the Balkan region are being acquired and controlled by wealthy tycoons, which is having a significant impact on editorial policies, leading to increased problems with censorship
Read more →The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) is a critical development for media independence and pluralism in Europe. The new legislation, which became effective on August 8, provides essential safeguards for public service media by protecting them from political interference in their governance and mandating stable, adequate, and predictable funding. This is crucial for the media
Read more →BCSDN has released its latest Monitoring Matrix report offering the most comprehensive regional assessment of civic space in the Western Balkans and Türkiye during 2024. Backed by a decade of on-the-ground monitoring, this year’s report sounds the alarm: while legal guarantees for civil society remain on paper, their enforcement is collapsing under political pressure, hostile
Read more →CIVICUS Monitor has published its July 2025 Watchlist, identifying six countries where civic freedoms are under serious and escalating threat, including two countries from the region – Serbia and Türkiye. This marks the second consecutive Watchlist in which Serbia has been included, reflecting deepening concerns over government-led smear campaigns, legal harassment of civil society actors,
Read more →The Western Balkans Disinformation Center released an analysis on fake news in Serbia, highlighting a pro-government media campaign targeting student protests and university blockades over six months. These outlets aim to discredit activists by spreading falsehoods about their motives and funding, especially after a peaceful student event with European Parliament rapporteur Tonino Picula was portrayed
Read more →Civil Society Europe (CSE) new `Civil Society State of Union` Report warns of a significant decline in democracy, human rights, and the rule of law since 2023, affecting both the EU and worldwide. Key findings include: democratic erosion, restrictive migration policies, weakened social rights, Inaction on climate change, and unchecked digitalization. The Civil Society State
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