News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Geopolitical tensions are reshaping EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, increasingly framing it as a strategic security instrument rather than a purely technical process. The war following the Russian invasion of Ukraine has accelerated debates inside the European Union about enlargement as part of broader European security planning. Experts argue that candidate countries in the
Read more →Europe’s media freedom landscape remained under pressure in 2025, with continued attacks, legal intimidation, and political interference affecting journalists and media organisations. The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) annual monitoring report, produced by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, the European Federation of Journalists, and the International Press Institute, documents 1,481 press freedom
Read more →BCSDN will conduct a targeted advocacy visit to Brussels from 3–6 March to engage EU institutions at a pivotal moment for the Union’s emerging democracy and funding frameworks. As the EU develops the Civil Society Strategy, the European Democracy Shield, and the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), these initiatives will shape civic space and support
Read more →On 12 March, the European Economic and Social Committee’s Western Balkans Follow-up Committee will host a conference at Europe House Skopje, gathering organised civil society and social partners from North Macedonia, including BCSDN, together with EU representatives and national authorities to exchange views on key developments and priorities related to the country’s EU accession process.
Read more →At the General Affairs Council, EU Ministers marked the launch of the European Centre for Democratic Resilience, a flagship initiative of the European Democracy Shield aimed at strengthening the EU’s response to threats such as disinformation, foreign interference, and electoral manipulation. The Centre will act as a strategic hub, connecting existing expertise, tools, and networks
Read more →CASE Coalition has opened nominations for the European SLAPP Contest 2026, highlighting the most abusive lawsuits filed in 2025 to intimidate journalists, activists, and civil society actors. The call invites submissions of the most egregious cases that demonstrate legal harassment, disproportionate claims, or efforts to silence public scrutiny. Selected nominees will be publicly highlighted, with
Read more →The war in Ukraine has revived EU enlargement, putting Montenegro and Albania at the forefront as negotiations advance, supported by Hungary’s pro-enlargement EU presidency—though final decisions rest with member states. Montenegro is considered the leading candidate, having opened all negotiating chapters and closed many, with possible membership by 2028 if reforms continue. Albania has also
Read more →Digital spaces are increasingly becoming a pressure point for civic voices in Southeast Europe, where environmental activists, independent media, and anti-corruption groups face growing risks from online harassment, surveillance concerns, disinformation, and legal intimidation. Monitoring by BIRN shows that attacks are often targeted at actors challenging entrenched political or economic interests. Environmental defenders have been
Read more →The European Union is reviewing its financial commitments to Serbia following the adoption of controversial judicial reforms, warning that these measures are “eroding trust.” EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos confirmed that the Commission is reconsidering a 1.6 billion EUR allocation of loans and grants under the EU Growth Plan, citing strict rule-of-law preconditions. The new
Read more →The Constitutional Court of Republika Srpska has confirmed the unconstitutionality of the Law on the Special Registry and Publicity of Non-Profit Organisations, known as the “foreign agents” law, months after the Constitutional Court of BiH struck it down. The law, adopted in 2025, had been widely criticised as a repressive measure targeting civil society, journalists,
Read more →Serbia’s Ombudsman has proposed amendments to the Public Order and Peace Law that would extend its jurisdiction to social media, sparking intense backlash from civil society and legal experts. While framed as a move to regulate digital conduct, critics warn the draft uses vague language that could criminalize political criticism, satire, and irony, potentially leading
Read more →European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said future EU accession treaties should include stronger safeguards that would “bite hard” if new members backslide on rule of law commitments, with Montenegro likely to be the first tested under such rules. Speaking at an enlargement conference in Tallinn, Kos stressed there can be no shortcuts on reforms,
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