News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Despite opposition and criticism, Republika Srpska proceeded with its controversial proposed law on “foreign agents,” targeting the work of NPOs in the entity. The law would define “agents of foreign influence” as NPOs assisted by foreign entities that are engaged in political activities, try to influence public opinion and undermine the integrity and constitution of
Read more →The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers adopted the Recommendation on countering the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). The newly adopted Recommendation provides a definition of SLAPPs, understood “as legal actions that are threatened, initiated or pursued as means of harassing or intimidating their target, and which seek to prevent, inhibit, restrict
Read more →ENCL’s latest position paper analyzes how the proposed Directive of the European Parliament and the Council establishing harmonised requirements in the internal market on transparency of interest representation carried out on behalf of third countries and amending the previous Directive may unnecessarily and disproportionately impact CSOs’ activities, as well as their freedom of expression, association,
Read more →The SafeJournalists Network expresses concern over coordinated efforts to undermine Citizens Channel, an independent media outlet in Albania. Recent actions to remove its content from Facebook, citing violations such as spam or rule-breaking, threaten independent journalism and citizens’ right to quality information. Such attacks not only infringe on journalistic rights but also intimidate other media
Read more →The European Centre for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL), Liberties, and the European Civic Forum (ECF) scrutinize the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), approved by the European Parliament on March 13. Despite being three years in the making, the AI Act fails to adequately safeguard fundamental rights and civic space. The organizations highlight five major
Read more →Romania faces a year of intense political campaigning as it organizes European, local, presidential, and parliamentary elections. Jornalists’ ability to successfully exercise the journalistic mission will be crucial for ensuring free and fair elections. Journalists must resist political pressure to report on political leaders, their programmes, and their records in office to ensure the public
Read more →The Liberties Rule of Law Report 2024, fifth annual edition, examines the state of the rule of law, democracy, and fundamental rights in 19 EU countries. Produced by Liberties in collaboration with 37 organizations, it is the most comprehensive analysis of the EU Rule of Law by an NGO network. Serving as both input for
Read more →Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama faced backlash for allegedly intimidating journalist Ambrozia Meta during a press conference in Tirana. Rama refused to answer Meta’s questions about an investment project involving Jared Kushner on the environmentally protected island of Sazan and was condemned as intimidating behavior. Despite demands for an apology, Rama defended his actions, claiming
Read more →The European Policy Center (EPC) discussion paper emphasizes the rise of deliberative democracy in Europe as a response to public demand for meaningful engagement. It identifies three key obstacles: fears of shifting power dynamics, a lack of innovative thinking, and diverging views on citizen participation. The paper also makes the case that the Union’s existing
Read more →A recent BIRN analysis reveals a concerning trend of violence and abuse targeting LGBT individuals in BiH and Serbia, particularly through popular dating apps like Grindr. Incidents such as a series of attacks in Sarajevo, where perpetrators lured victims via Grindr, highlight the risks faced by the community. Despite the prevalence of such crimes, hate
Read more →A coalition of human rights organizations, including ARTICLE 19 and Human Rights Watch, has called on social media platforms to protect users’ free expression rights and resist state censorship ahead of Turkey’s municipal elections on 31 March. The organizations emphasize the importance of transparency in disclosing government requests and pressure to restrict content. They criticize
Read more →The “Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Criminal Code” adopted on 20 July 2023, by the National Assembly in Republika Srpska, introduces criminal penalties for defamation, disclosure of personal information, and based on race, religion, or nationality. While previous analyses focused on media impacts, the ECNL examines how these amendments affect civil society, activists,
Read more →