News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Health NGOs are facing new restrictions on the use of EU funds, as the European Commission moves to bar advocacy and lobbying activities from eligibility under its grants. The decision follows similar actions taken earlier against environmental groups and comes amid growing pressure from right-wing lawmakers demanding greater transparency in NGO funding. Several Brussels-based health
Read more →Skopje, May 10, 2025 – The Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) released its latest policy brief, “The Missing Piece: Why Civic Space Must Be…
Read more →The Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) took part in the 10th Western Balkans Civil Society Forum, organized in Budva on 13 and 14 May, by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). Bringing together representatives of civil society, social partners, EU institutions, and regional stakeholders, the Forum provided a platform to discuss the state
Read more →Serbia’s EU membership aspirations faced a setback as it remains excluded from membership projections until 2029. This skepticism arises from stalled reforms, political unrest, and Serbia’s alignment with Russia. Although Serbia shows technical readiness for Cluster 3 negotiations, EU officials doubt its commitment. Concerns include slow progress on media freedom, electoral reform, and alignment with
Read more →In a stark warning from his 2025 report, Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset has highlighted that Europe is facing a “perfect storm” of crises. These include ongoing wars, significant geopolitical shifts, a decline in democratic values, and the rise of nationalism. Berset stressed that these challenges seriously threaten the peace and stability that
Read more →A new draft law submitted to the Hungarian Parliament has raised concerns among civil society and media watchdogs. The proposal seeks to require organisations and media outlets receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “foreign-funded,” a move critics fear could stigmatise independent voices and limit public trust. The law would
Read more →In response to the growing political tensions in Serbia, the European Union has issued a strong call for restraint and constructive dialogue. Concerns were raised regarding the initiation of criminal proceedings against the Rector of the University of Belgrade, as well as the recent blockade of the public broadcaster RTS. Emphasis was placed on the
Read more →BCSDN has opened applications for its first Civic Space Hackathon, set to take place in Skopje on 17–18 June 2025. Under the slogan “Innovate for Impact,” the event invites interdisciplinary teams from NGOs and academic institutions across the Western Balkans to develop bold, practical solutions to pressing civic space challenges, including disinformation, smear campaigns, and
Read more →On 29 April, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) issued an interim measure instructing the Serbian Government to prevent any future use of sonic devices for crowd control purposes. The ruling follows allegations of acoustic weapons being used during the March 15 protest in Belgrade, where participants reported panic, injuries, and severe physical and
Read more →A common civil society position paper on the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) has been published by Civil Society Europe (CSE), in collaboration with a broad coalition of CSOs. In the document, an open and rights-based approach to the next EU budget is advocated, with emphasis placed on safeguarding democracy, fundamental rights, social inclusion, and
Read more →On 8 April the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE) held its annual in-person strategy meeting in Brussels, bringing together legal experts and civil society organisations from across Europe. The meeting focused on assessing progress in tackling Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) over the past year, setting priorities for 2025, and discussing the implementation
Read more →A coordinated statement by over 570 civil society organisations from all EU Member States and beyond, including BCSDN, responds to recent attacks from certain MEPs—primarily from the European People’s Party and far-right groups—aimed at delegitimising CSO advocacy in EU institutions. The narrative, amplified in some media, misrepresents how CSOs are funded and operate, while ignoring
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