News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The latest European Democracy Hub report highlights how civil society worldwide faces increasingly severe and existential threats, with restrictions intensifying in speed and scale. Regimes are moving beyond ad hoc measures to undermine the existence of an independent civic sphere, while cuts in western funding further weaken CSOs. The report argues that new thinking is
Read more →The Bertelsmann Stiftung Transformation Index (BTI) 2026 finds that East-Central and Southeast Europe remains the best-performing region among developing and transition countries, combining resilient economies with mixed progress in political transformation. While some countries continue democratic consolidation and Poland has been undoing the damage of previous illiberal rule, backsliding has deepened in Hungary, Slovakia and
Read more →BCSDN contributed to a high-level meeting in Brussels on establishing a European Community of Practice for Human Rights Defenders, hosted by OHCHR. The initiative aims to strengthen coordination, communication, and protection mechanisms for defenders across Europe, though key aspects such as geographic scope are still under discussion. Representing BCSDN, Simona Mladenovska highlighted the need for
Read more →The EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has dismissed a proposal by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to accelerate EU integration for candidate countries without full membership rights. The proposal suggested allowing access to the EU single market and the Schengen area without granting veto power, effectively creating a two-tier
Read more →The Liberties Rule of Law Report 2026 highlights a deepening rule of law crisis across the EU, marked by persistent democratic decline and a widening gap between recommendations and implementation. Drawing on input from nearly 40 organisations, the report finds that 93% of previous recommendations remain unimplemented, with many countries stagnating or backsliding, and some
Read more →A new discussion paper by International IDEA warns that democracy in the Western Balkans is entering a period of deep uncertainty, shaped by shifting global dynamics and internal structural challenges. The report explores how the region’s democratic future could evolve by 2040 through four alternative scenarios, ranging from successful EU-driven consolidation to authoritarian decline. The
Read more →The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) 2026 Civic Space Update highlights a continued deterioration of conditions for civil society across the EU, with 75% of organisations reporting barriers to their work and over 70% noting worsening conditions at EU or national level . CSOs face persistent threats, including online attacks (67%), smear campaigns (60%),
Read more →Freedom House’s Freedom in the World 2026 report confirms a continued global decline in political rights and civil liberties for the 20th consecutive year, with 54 countries deteriorating and only 35 improving, while just 21% of the world’s population lives in “Free” countries. The decline is driven by armed conflict, attacks on democratic institutions, and
Read more →From 3–6 March, BCSDN carried out its annual advocacy mission to Brussels at a pivotal moment for EU democracy initiatives and enlargement policy. As the EU moves to operationalize the Civil Society Strategy and the European Democracy Shield, while preparing the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034), BCSDN engaged with European Commission representatives, Members of the
Read more →CIVICUS has released its 2026 State of Civil Society Report, the 15th edition of its annual analysis examining global civil society trends in 2025 and early 2026. Drawing on the CIVICUS Lens initiative, the report is based on more than 250 interviews and articles covering around 100 countries and territories. It highlights growing challenges to
Read more →Seven new reports examine civic space developments in 2025 across Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania. Produced under the Monitoring Action for Civic Space (MACS) project, they apply a new civil society methodology to track both progress and decline in civic freedoms. The findings point to growing concerns, including restrictions on protest
Read more →A newly adopted European Parliament report on EU enlargement argues that the cost of non-enlargement would exceed that of accepting new members, warning that delays could create geopolitical grey zones vulnerable to foreign influence. Adopted with 385 votes in favour, the report frames enlargement as a strategic investment in EU security and stability, while reaffirming
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