News and updates from BCSDN and the region
After years of taking the Western Balkan region for granted, there were great expectations that the European Commission’s strategy paper published in February 2018 would herald a new and more determined EU engagement. Unfortunately, this has not been the case, raising serious concerns as to whether some member states fully grasp what is at stake
Read more →The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held its seventh Western Balkans Civil Society Forum with the support of the European Commission and the Regional Cooperation Council. The forum brought together representatives of Western Balkans trade unions, employers and civil society organisations, EESC members, representatives of the governments of the Western Balkans, and EU and
Read more →Under the auspices of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, International Conference on Agenda 2030: Partnerships for Sustainable Development took place on the 16th of April, at the Palace of Parliament, in Bucharest. The Conference was organised by the Department of Sustainable Development within the Romanian Government and aimed at strengthening the coordination for
Read more →The 2019 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders published on April 18th noted significant declines over the past year in levels of press freedom in Serbia, Albania and Moldova while the situation was improving in North Macedonia, Croatia and Kosovo. Serbia was ranked in 90th place in the media watchdog’s world rankings, down
Read more →On April 5th, Partners Albania launched the National Resource Centre for Civil Society in Albania, a platform for civil society at the national level to…
Read more →The Global Civil Society Summit held on 8 April in Belgrade, Serbia, as part of the ICSW 2019, around 150 leaders and CSO representatives gathered to unite in the fight for democratic participation and civic freedoms. The Summit launched a Call to Action, calling for international and national civil society civil society to stand together
Read more →From 8-12 April in Belgrade, some 900 human rights campaigners, civil society leaders and engaged citizens met for the International Civil Society Week (ICSW) 2019 – a global civil society gathering co-hosted by CIVICUS, Civic Initiatives (Serbia) and BCSDN. Throughout the ICSW, it was evident that individuals and organisations are increasingly under attack in many countries. Activists,
Read more →More than five months after it approved a highly restrictive law, the Kosovo Parliament on 15 April voted on the amendments proposed by the Office of the President of Kosovo on the NGO Law, in line with best international standards and practices, and civil society demands. Since November 2018, around 300 Kosovar CSOs came together to prevent
Read more →According to the 8th annual State of Civil Society Report by CIVICUS, 2018 was another year of immense contestation for fundamental rights. On the one side stood rising right-wing populists, authoritarian presidents, large corporations with few scruples and anti-rights groups. Yet, on the other side, progressive, rights-oriented civil society and citizens bravely stepped forward to
Read more →On 20 March, the EESC adopted its own-initiated opinion, concluding that liberal democracy relies on civil liberties and a pluralistic civil society, but considerable political forces in today’s Europe are challenging liberal democracy. The social, political and legal framework must allow for a pluralistic civil society. Strong social partners and civil society are needed to
Read more →The Council adopted conclusions approving the EU human rights guidelines on non-discrimination in external action. The Council reaffirms the EU’s commitment to the purposes and principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that applies to all human beings without distinction of any kind. The Council recalls that the Treaty on the European Union establishes
Read more →The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) published its latest report: “Closing Academic Space: Repressive State Practices in Legislative, Regulatory and Other Restrictions on Higher Education Institutions.” The report, authored by Kirsten Roberts Lyer and Aron Suba, seeks to understand the ways in which governments are repressing university autonomy and closing academic space. The authors
Read more →
