News and updates from BCSDN and the region
BCSDN strongly condemns the February 25 raids on Civic Initiatives, CRTA, Trag Foundation, the Center for Practical Politics, and KOMS, calling it yet another case of state pressure on independent civil society in Serbia. Conducted without prior notice, search warrants, or official explanation, the raids were reportedly linked to alleged misuse of USAID funds and
Read more →The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has announced that Civil Society Week 2025 will be held in Brussels from March 17-20, focusing on “Strengthening Cohesion and Participation in Polarised Societies”. The event will address the challenges posed by recent crises, including the pandemic, climate change, rising living costs, and income disparities, which have deepened
Read more →The European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) has reviewed draft reports on Serbia and Kosovo, emphasizing the need to relaunch dialogue and advance rule of law reforms. The report on Serbia, led by MEP Tonino Picula, rapporteur for Serbia, acknowledges the country’s formal commitment to EU integration but raises concerns over judicial independence, alignment
Read more →The U.S. administration’s 90-day freeze on foreign aid, including USAID funding, has severely impacted civil society in the Western Balkans. The decision has disrupted critical programs supporting independent media, marginalized groups, economic competitiveness, and citizen participation. Beyond the immediate financial fallout, the freeze has emboldened nationalist and right-wing actors to escalate attacks on civil society.
Read more →BCSDN and Think for Europe Network (TEN) are organizing the Western Balkans Civil Society Policy Dialogues in Brussels. This high-level event, hosted and moderated by the European Policy Center (EPC), will bring together leading CSOs, policy experts, EU officials, and representatives from Member States to explore the evolving challenges and opportunities in the EU enlargement
Read more →EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos addressed concerns about Serbia’s political situation in both an open letter and a speech at the European Parliament plenary debate. In the letter, she responded to Serbian academia, political representatives, and CSOs, stressing the need to respect freedom of assembly. She condemned violence against demonstrators, urged a full investigation
Read more →After years of advocacy by EU CSOs, including European Civic Forum (ECF), the European Commission has added a Civil Society Strategy to its 2025 work plan. This milestone comes amid growing threats to civic space—restrictive laws, funding limits, harassment, and smear campaigns, including recent attacks by EPP MEPs on European NGOs. The strategy aims to
Read more →As of 1 February, the European Commission has launched the Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST) to oversee enlargement policy, accession talks, and regional cooperation. It will manage communication on enlargement benefits, as well as financial and technical assistance for candidate countries and Eastern Neighbourhood states, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus. DG ENEST
Read more →BCSDN strongly condemns the ongoing smear campaign against prominent civil society activist Maja Stojanović, Executive Director of Civic Initiatives and BCSDN Board Member, as well as broader attacks on independent civil society in Serbia. While public smearing of Civic Initiatives has persisted for months, recent weeks have seen intensified disinformation and intimidation, particularly in response
Read more →Following the abrupt suspension of U.S. foreign assistance, including the USAID funding, hundreds of projects now face uncertainty worldwide and in the Western Balkans. The three-month halt under President Trump’s Executive Order has stalled work by CSOs, independent media, and human rights initiatives, forcing many organizations to reduce staff or suspend activities. Programs supporting judicial
Read more →Western Balkans civil society networks, along with BCSDN are organizing an advocacy event in Brussels on February 25, bringing together civil society and think tank networks from the Western Balkans alongside EU stakeholders to discuss the future of EU enlargement. The event will focus on preserving the integrity of the enlargement process, maintaining the EU’s
Read more →On 17-20, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is organizing Civil Society Week, bringing together civil society stakeholders across Europe to address polarisation and strengthen democratic engagement. As overlapping crises—from economic downturns to climate change and widening disparities—deepen societal divisions, the urgency to foster cohesion and participation has never been greater. The outcomes of
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