What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

2026 European Commission Rule of Law Report Highlights Persistent Civic Space Challenges in Enlargement Countries

The European Commission has published its 2026 Rule of Law Report, including country chapters for Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. The report identifies persistent challenges affecting civic space, including pressure on civil society and journalists, SLAPPs, political interference, restrictions on fundamental freedoms, and limited access to information. It also highlights uneven public consultation practices,

Read more →

Civil Society & Think Tank Forum 2026 (5-7 October, Prishtina)

The Civil Society & Think Tank Forum (CSF) 2026 will take place from 5–7 October in Prishtina, organised by the Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans in partnership with the Government of Kosovo and in cooperation with the Government of Montenegro under the Berlin Process Chairmanship. As the official civil society platform of the Berlin

Read more →

BIRN Report Highlights Rising Digital Rights Threats Across the Western Balkans and Türkiye

BIRN’s latest regional digital rights report documents 152 violations recorded in the first quarter of 2026, highlighting increasing pressure on digital rights across the Western Balkans and Türkiye. The report identifies economic fraud, online harassment, gender-based violence, data breaches and coordinated attacks targeting journalists and civil society as the region’s most pressing digital rights challenges.

Read more →

Albania Advances EU Accession with First Three Negotiating Chapters Closed

Albania has provisionally closed its first three negotiating chapters in its EU accession process, marking a significant milestone on its path towards EU membership. At the ninth Accession Conference, the country closed the chapters on Science and Research (25), Education and Culture (26), and External Relations (30) following the European Commission’s positive assessment of its

Read more →

Media Freedom in Serbia Faces Deepening Crisis, New Report Warns

A report by the IPI and Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium warns that media freedom in Serbia is facing a deepening crisis. The findings point to record levels of violence against journalists, death threats, online smear campaigns, SLAPPs, surveillance and growing political control over the media landscape. In 2025 alone, 209 press freedom violations

Read more →

EESC Plenary to Feature High-Level Debate on EU Enlargement (15-16 July)

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will host its High-level Debate on EU Enlargement 2026 on 16 July in Brussels, bringing together EU institutions, governments and organised civil society to discuss the future of enlargement. The event will be opened by EESC President Séamus Boland and Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, while Valentina Superti,

Read more →

30 European Networks Urge the EU to Protect Democracy Funding

Thirty European civil society networks, including BCSDN, have urged the Council of the European Union to strengthen, not reduce EU investment in democracy by increasing the AgoraEU budget and safeguarding funding for the CERV+ programme in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The joint letter warns that proposed budget cuts come as CSOs across Europe

Read more →

EU Considers Stronger Safeguards to Preserve Rule of Law After Future Enlargements

The European Union is developing new safeguard mechanisms aimed at ensuring that future member states continue to uphold democratic standards, the rule of law, and EU commitments after accession. Speaking to POLITICO, the European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos confirmed that the European Commission is exploring measures such as transitional periods and post-accession safeguards that

Read more →

Civil Society State of the Union 2027: Call for Participants

Civil Society Europe has launched preparations for the Civil Society State of the Union 2027, inviting EU-level CSOs to contribute to a collective assessment of democracy, civic participation and key societal challenges across the European Union. Building on previous editions published in 2023 and 2025, the report aims to complement the European Commission President’s annual

Read more →