What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

BiH: Proposed Local Measures on Social Media Monitoring Raise Freedom of Expression Concerns 

A proposed initiative in Bugojno to introduce local public order measures allowing police sanctions for “insulting” or “disturbing” content on social media has raised concerns among journalists, media experts, and CSOs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The proposal follows a similar decision previously adopted in Kakanj, where local authorities expanded the definition of “public space” to include online platforms,

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New RESILIO-ACCESS Monitor Tracks Rule of Law Resilience Across EU Accession Countries 

The newly launched RESILIO-ACCESS Monitor, an analytical tool designed to measure the resilience of the rule of law in EU accession countries, introduces a new approach to assessing both institutional capacity and the ability of democratic systems to withstand political pressure, democratic backsliding, and autocratisation attempts. By bringing together comparative data and resilience-focused analysis, the Monitor

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BCSDN Calls for Safeguards, Participation and Dedicated Funding for Civil Society in the 2028–2034 MFF

In an open letter to EU institutions, BCSDN calls for clear safeguards, participation, and dedicated funding for civil society in the 2028–2034 MFF, warning that enlargement will depend on how commitments translate into real support. While the EU Civil Society Strategy and European Democracy Shield signal stronger recognition of civil society, current proposals—marked by more

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European SLAPP Contest 2026 Names Top Legal Bullies

The fifth European SLAPP Contest, organised by the CASE Coalition on 28 April, highlighted individuals and entities using lawsuits to silence critics across Europe. Winners included the Barabás Brothers (HELL ENERGY Ltd, Hungary) as SLAPP Addict of the Year, Belgian politician Claude Eerdekens as SLAPP Politician of the Year, Croatian judge Ivan Marković as SLAPP

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Liberties: EU Media Freedom Worsens Amid Political Inertia in Implementing New Rules

Media freedom in the EU continued to deteriorate in 2025, despite the adoption of new legislation, according to the Liberties Media Freedom Report 2026. While instruments such as the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and the Anti-SLAPP Directive were expected to strengthen protections, slow and often superficial implementation has limited their impact. Persistent concerns remain,

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FORUS Post-2030 Vision Paper: Shaping the Next Global Development Agenda

As the global community looks beyond 2030, Forus presents its new Vision Paper, What We Defend, Demand and Decline, outlining key priorities for the next global development framework. Based on consultations across a global network representing over 24,000 NGOs, the paper explores possible futures—from continuity to reset or fragmentation—while highlighting the need to defend a

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BCSDN Joins 500+ Organisations Calling for Increased Funding for AgoraEU Programme

BCSDN joined over 500 organisations from across Europe’s cultural, media, and civil society sectors in calling for a substantial increase in funding for the AgoraEU programme within the EU’s next long-term budget (2028–2034). Supporting the European Parliament’s position, the coalition highlights that the current allocation—around 0.43% of the EU budget—is insufficient to address rising challenges,

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EESC: EU Path in North Macedonia Marked by Reform and Civic Space Challenges

At a March 2026 conference in Skopje, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) highlighted a critical moment for North Macedonia’s EU path. While public support for EU membership remains strong, reforms must deliver tangible improvements to maintain trust, particularly within a narrowing “window of opportunity” for enlargement. Discussions pointed to largely procedural civil and

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