News and updates from BCSDN and the region
An urgent call for a systematic and institutional approach to combat foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) in North Macedonia was issued today at an expert meeting in the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia. Organized by the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security and the Institute of Communication Studies (ICS), the session highlighted
Read more →BIRN has released “Serbia on the Streets,” a new, free e-book compiling Balkan Insight’s extensive coverage of the student-led protest movement that swept Serbia from November 2024 to May 2025. Available now for free download in PDF and EPUB formats, the collection begins with the tragic Novi Sad railway station disaster on November 1, 2024,
Read more →The Fundamental Rights Report 2025 paints a stark picture of the ongoing threats to fundamental rights across Europe. The report covers all 27 EU Member States as well as Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia. With democracy under siege, the report exposes alarming trends, including a rise in violence against women and serious rights abuses at EU
Read more →A recent report released by BIRN Serbia and Internews Kosova reveals that Kosovo and Serbian media tend to concentrate primarily on crises and incidents when covering the complex relationship between the two nations. The report, titled “Journalistic Perspectives on Serbia-Kosovo Relations,” argues that this limited scope contributes to growing mistrust and the spread of misinformation,
Read more →In a significant move, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) General Assembly convened on June 3 in Budapest, to express deep concern over the alarming rise in attacks, threats, and pressure on journalists in Serbia. The resolution was put forth by the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) and the Trade Union of Culture, Arts,
Read more →In a vigorous response to proposed amendments to the Electoral Code in North Macedonia, various civic initiatives presented their demands to Parliament on May 30, calling for markedly easier conditions for independent candidacies. These groups are advocating for a maximum requirement of just 50 signatures for independent lists, permission to gather signatures outside State Election
Read more →This study explores the mechanisms, methods, and effects of Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) in the Republic of North Macedonia, with particular focus on national security, the media landscape, and social cohesion. As a country with a strategic position in the region, a NATO member, and a candidate for European Union (EU) membership, North
Read more →A new civil society-led report sheds light on how the Humanitarian–Development–Peace (HDP) Nexus is being put into practice, four years after the adoption of the OECD/DAC Nexus Recommendation. Produced by the Peace & Security Thematic Working Group of the DAC-CSO Reference Group, the report draws on global survey responses and insights from online consultations with
Read more →The study “Civic Engagement 2024” by BCSDN’s member Macedonian Centre for International Cooperation (MCIC) reveals important findings about citizens’ participation in various forms of association, non-partisan political activities, and volunteering, as well as the reasons for (non)involvement and motivation for civic engagement in North Macedonia. Nearly half of the citizens do not know which forms
Read more →A new report by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) reveals alarming trends in surveillance and censorship across the Western Balkans. Covering developments through the end of 2024 and early 2025, the study highlights how digital technologies are increasingly used to monitor citizens, suppress dissent, and restrict media freedom despite formal legal alignment with EU
Read more →Women journalists across Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia are facing an escalating wave of gender-based violence and intimidation. From relentless online abuse to targeted smear campaigns, the attacks are growing in frequency and ferocity—especially on social media. Investigative reporters, in particular, are bearing the brunt of this aggression, often enduring daily sexist insults,
Read more →A new study by Metamorphosis examines how the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) could impact civil society organizations and investigative journalists in North Macedonia. As the country continues aligning with European standards, the DSA introduces stricter rules for content moderation, algorithm transparency, and the accountability of digital platforms. The research explores how civil society actors
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