News and updates from BCSDN and the region
A new report examines the state of civic education across 35 European countries, highlighting its crucial role in promoting active citizenship and democratic stability. Building on a 2023 study, the report includes 13 additional countries and underscores ongoing challenges faced by civic actors, such as funding shortages, lack of recognition, and the need to adapt
Read more →A year after the adoption of the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive, legal scholars and civil society actors continue to assess its scope and potential. In a recent EU Law Live op-ed, key reflections are offered on the strengths and remaining gaps in the directive’s design—particularly around cross-border applicability and procedural safeguards for victims. While the directive
Read more →Concentrated media ownership, declining public funding, and the dominance of tech giants in advertising continue to erode editorial independence, with more than half of journalists reporting interference from media owners. While Europe remains the region with the highest level of press freedom, the Western Balkans face mixed developments. Kosovo experienced the sharpest decline in the
Read more →At the European Commission’s annual Rule of Law report meeting, Civil Society Europe (CSE) called for urgent protection of civic space and fundamental rights. Co-chaired by CSE and Caroline Hansen from the Human Rights and Democracy Network (HRDN), the session emphasized coordinated efforts in Brussels and across Europe to safeguard democracy against political threats. Reflecting
Read more →Civil Society Europe has announced the recipients of the 2025 Civil Dialogue Award, celebrating organisations that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to advancing structured civil dialogue and protecting civic space across Europe. The European Civic Forum was recognised for leading the #EUCivilDialogueNow campaign, pushing for a formalised framework for civil society participation at the EU level.
Read more →Kosovo’s Constitutional Court has annulled the controversial Law on the Independent Media Commission (IMC), marking a significant victory for media freedom and civil society in the country. The Court found that several provisions of the law undermined the independence of the IMC, including the method of proposing its members, criteria for dismissing the chairperson and
Read more →On 7 January, Meta ended its fact-checking program, introducing the “Community Notes” system that allows users to add context to posts. This has relaxed restrictions on sensitive topics like immigration and gender, which might permit hate speech under the guise of political discourse. An analytical commentary compares these shifts to the surge of hate speech
Read more →More than 2,000 media outlets globally have begun the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) certification process led by Reporters without Borders (RSF) to enhance media ethics. The JTI involves a self-assessment against 130 criteria using the JTI-app, publishing a transparency report, and an optional external audit for certification. Ten media outlets successfully completed the JTI self-assessment
Read more →A new analysis by the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BIEPAG) highlights the student-led protests in Serbia as a critical test for democracy—both nationally and across the Western Balkans. With tens of thousands mobilised across the country, the movement represents the most serious challenge to Serbia’s authoritarian trajectory under President Vučić. The report warns
Read more →The Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law (FRRL) Group of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) concluded a two-day visit to Tirana on 2-3 April 2025, marking its first mission to Albania. Meeting with civil society, media representatives, and authorities, the delegation gathered input on key challenges affecting freedoms of association and assembly, media
Read more →The latest survey by the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC) reveals a significant decline in public trust in civil society organisations (CSOs). In 2024, the overall trust index in the sector dropped to 42.9%, down by 8.2 percentage points compared to 2021. Only 38.4% of respondents expressed trust in CSOs, with notable variations across
Read more →The Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties) has released its sixth annual Rule of Law Report, providing a civil society-led shadow assessment of developments in the EU during 2024. Covering 21 countries and drawing on over 40 local partner contributions, the report highlights persistent structural deficiencies, including politicised justice systems, corruption, media interference, and shrinking
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