News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Bulgaria’s parliament has set up a commission to investigate alleged influence by NGOs and companies linked to George Soros and his son, a move driven by pro-Russian, nationalist parties and by Delyan Peevski’s New Beginning. GERB lawmakers mostly abstained or voted against. Although presenting himself as pro-Western, Peevski has increasingly used anti-Soros conspiracy rhetoric common
Read more →WHAT TO FIX, along with 125 CSOs, has expressed serious concerns over the EU Digital Omnibus proposals, warning they could dismantle key protections for personal data, AI oversight, and digital rights. The coalition argues that under the guise of “technical streamlining,” the proposals risk weakening the ePrivacy framework, the GDPR, and AI regulations, potentially exposing
Read more →Civil Society Europe has raised concern over the European Commission’s plan to withdraw the European Cross-Border Associations (ECBA) Directive from its 2026 Work Programme. The proposal, developed by the now-dismantled social economy unit in DG GROW, was expected to create a long-awaited European Association Status, enabling non-profit organisations to operate more easily across borders. With
Read more →Independent civil society organisations across Europe are warning of growing pressure that threatens democratic accountability and public-interest protections. Once key partners in shaping policies on health, the environment and social rights, many groups now face defunding, smear campaigns and shrinking civic space. Recent EU funding cuts have forced health NGOs to scale back, while environmental
Read more →Visa systems in Europe’s Schengen area create major barriers for human rights defenders (HRDs) from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, preventing their participation in key decision-making forums, Amnesty International said in its new report Closing the door? How visa policies in Europe’s Schengen area fail human rights defenders. The report shows that HRDs from
Read more →At the OGP Global Summit in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, BCSDN urged stronger action against tactics undermining democracy in the Western Balkans. Executive Director Biljana Spasovska warned that civil society faces restrictive laws and covert attacks, including smear campaigns and arbitrary inspections, draining resources and chilling civic space. She stressed that “performative participation” turns civil society involvement
Read more →A coalition of NGOs, including the European Civic Forum and FIDH, has condemned the violent repression of peaceful protests supporting the Global Sumud Flotilla and the Palestinian people. They called on EU leaders to protect the fundamental rights to assembly, association, and expression ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 20 October. The groups
Read more →The Internal Market (IMCO) Committee has voted on the proposed Foreign Interest Representation Directive, which aims for transparency in lobbying by non-EU countries. Civil Society Europe (CSE) has cautiously welcomed the outcome, noting that the draft included improvements, such as strengthened protections for academic and media freedom. However, for CSOs, key issues remain. CSE warned
Read more →The Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) has released a Policy Brief summarizing the outcomes of the High-Level Multi-Stakeholder Side Event of the Berlin Process on Anti-Corruption and Good Governance (Sarajevo, Oct 6, 2025). The brief calls for accelerated ratification of the International Treaty on Exchange of Data for Asset Declarations and the adoption of the Regional
Read more →Youth participation in European elections is at a historic low, with support for far-right parties rising, especially among young men. Despite being well-educated, Millennials and Generation Z are disengaged from politics. In 2024, only 36% of 15–24-year-olds voted, compared to 58% of those over 55. Young people cite the cost of living, housing, and jobs
Read more →A new report by Index on Censorship, From Survivor to Defendant, reveals how survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the UK and Ireland are being targeted with Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). Since the #MeToo movement, survivors and journalists have faced legal threats from those accused, with courts sometimes used to continue
Read more →A new study, based on CSOs in Czechia, Hungary, and Bulgaria, reveals that a CSO’s ability to withstand political hostility and funding withdrawal is determined primarily by its internal attributes, not just the external environment. Analyzing CSOs that faced pressure between 2010 and 2019, the research highlights that while many organizations reduced staff or replaced
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