News and updates from BCSDN and the region
An international fact-finding mission will assess press freedom and journalist safety in Croatia from 9-20 September. Organized by Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners, including ARTICLE 19 Europe and the European Federation of Journalists, the mission will examine recent attacks on journalists, challenges with media ownership transparency, and legal threats, including SLAPPs. This follows after
Read more →BCSDN member, the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC) released a report on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) in North Macedonia, revealing an alarming increase in such cases aimed at intimidating journalists and activists. The report provides SLAPP cases, where powerful entities use different tactics to silence critics. It highlights insufficient legal protections against
Read more →Intimidatory lawsuits aimed at silencing journalists and media freedom activists by draining their resources have proliferated in Serbia, where there is no legislation to curb aggressive litigation by the rich and powerful. The Slavko Curuvija Foundation received a defamation lawsuit from Ratko Romic, a former state security operative indicted for his involvement in the murder
Read more →The EU and Serbia have advanced a controversial lithium mining project with the signing of a memorandum in Belgrade. This agreement, supported by the multinational corporation Rio Tinto, aims to reduce Europe’s dependence on Chinese lithium for electric vehicle batteries. The deal reflects the EU’s strategy to secure critical raw materials and enhance Europe’s green
Read more →An article by “Slobodna Bosna,” shared by Self-Determination MPs, accuses Serbian President Vučić of influencing media in Kosovo, alleging control over Periskopi and a multi-million transaction with Nacionale to criticize Albin Kurti’s government. The Kosovo Journalists’ Association has repeatedly appealed to Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his ruling Self-Determination Movement to stop “unacceptable campaigns” aimed
Read more →Romanian media argue that recent legal reforms fall short of protecting journalists from SLAPPs intended to stifle free speech. Attila Biro, editor of Context.ro, an investigative news outlet, is facing a 3.4 million EUR lawsuit from businessman Jurgen Faff. The lawsuit claims that Context’s articles about a stalled golf course project in southern Transylvania damaged
Read more →The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium expresses deep alarm over Kosovo’s new media law, passed by the Parliament this month, which poses significant threats to media freedom and independence. This law grants the government greater control over media regulation through the Independent Media Commission (IMC). Concerns include increased political influence on the IMC, mandatory
Read more →The Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto is regaining public support in Serbia to restart its lithium mining project in Jadar Valley. The Serbian government plans to reinstate previously blocked mining permits that in 2021 were followed by massive protests against the company’s negative damage to the environment, followed by police brutality against activists. Despite new
Read more →Kosovo’s Parliament adopted a controversial law on the Independent Media Commission, IMC, ignoring international calls for stricter safeguards. The new law requires online media to obtain state licenses and register with the IMC, which will manage the Online Media Register. They will also now be subject to a regime of sanctions, including potential fines of
Read more →In Albania, media independence is severely compromised by political influence and financial instability. The government exercises near-total control over major media outlets, transforming them into tools of political propaganda. Efforts to establish media self-regulation, such as the Albanian Media Council, face significant governmental sabotage. Traditional media is largely owned by business elites who exchange favorable
Read more →Croatian women’s activists from the Association Autonomous Women’s House Zagreb are advocating for law reforms to strengthen abortion rights and limit public anti-abortion protests. They highlight the harmful impact of ultra-conservative ‘kneelers,’ who pray in public against abortion and divorce, promoting violence and discrimination against women. The proposed changes to the criminal code include penalizing
Read more →Mirdita – Dobar dan, an annual festival promoting reconciliation between Serbian and Kosovar youth through art, culture, advocacy, and debate, was banned by Serbian authorities. Scheduled to open on June 27 at Dorćol Platz in Belgrade, the festival faced opposition from ultranationalist and hooligan groups, who blocked access, intimidated attendees, and vandalized the venue. Despite
Read more →