What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

European Civic Forum: There is a Need for a Comprehensive Approach to the Deterioration of the Rule of Law and Backsliding Democracy in the EU

In its latest publication, the European Civic Forum with four main asks reacted to the European Commission Stakeholders’ Consultation on the Rule of Law in the European Union. It states that the European Commission should adopt a comprehensive approach for the rule of law, fundamental rights, and democracy. Also, a comprehensive approach should include a

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SERBIA: CEPRIS Financial Control is a Continuation of the Campaign of Intimidation and Obstruction of the Civil Society Work

Recalling recent examples of government’s abuse of international recommendations, including the case in which the Directorate for the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in Serbia investigated 57 organizations, media, and individuals without legal grounds, and state bodies’ campaign to obstruct CSO’s work, in a statement CSOs, among which BCSDN member Civic Initiatives, express

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TURKEY: Top Administrative Court Ruled Government Restricted Media Freedom

Turkey’s top administrative court decided the authorities’ regulations on journalists’ accreditation, allowing officials to cancel reporters’ press cards being unfriendly to the government, breached the media freedom. With the authorities’ regulation, many independent journalists have had their press cards revoked, or their renewal applications were denied. According to the Council of State, the press cards

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SERBIA: Polarized Reporting on EU Country Findings in Media

In its latest publication, the Centre for Contemporary Politics states that when informing citizens about EU reports on Serbia, there is a lack of reporting of direct findings, conclusions, and independent interpretations of the Commission Report’s original text. It asserts that the EU report presents a situation that is not in line with the country’s

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IDSC Policy Study on Crisis Management – Lessons from the COVID-19 Crisis in the Western Balkans

A new IDSC public policy study aims to assess the crisis management system’s structure and provide recommendations for its development. By reviewing the legal and institutional set-up, it reflects on the competencies of the municipalities; it identifies the systemic gaps and challenges, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operation of the municipalities; the

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Serbia: Smear Campaign Against KRIK’s Investigative Journalists

A smear campaign was launched against the investigative portal KRIK, emerging in Serbia’s major government-funded tabloids. The organization (a member of the Organised Crime and Corruption Research Network (OCCRP), was connected with an organized criminal group headed by a recently-arrested crime boss, under investigation for several murders. The campaign made unsupported and inaccurate claims that the criminal

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Slovenia: Media Freedom Groups Concerns Over Press Freedom in the Country

European press freedom and journalists’ organizations expressed their concern about Slovenia’s state of media freedom and the Prime minister’s attacks on the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) independence. They state that journalists’ denigration, and the ruling party’s attempts to exercise greater control over the country’s public service media, generates a hostile climate for critical reporting. Moreover,

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Turkey: Protests Over Country’s Withdrawal from Women’s Treaty

Thousands of protesters took to Istanbul’s streets after Turkey pulled out the Istanbul agreement designed to protect women from domestic violence, signed in 2011 to stop killing women and girls. Many national and international organizations condemned and, with joint actions, urged against the Turkish authorities’ decision that seriously affects women’s rights. BCSDN member from Turkey,

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North Macedonia: Election of 16 Members of the Council for Cooperation with and Development of Civil Society from Associations and Foundations (Deadline: 5 April 2021)

To maintain an independent, representative, and effective Council for Cooperation with and Development of the Civil Sector in the next three years in N. Macedonia, the General Secretariat of the Government announces a Public Call for the election of 16 members of the Council among associations and foundations. Organizations registered under the Law on Associations

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Protecting Civil Society in Global Counterterrorism: FATF Leads the Way, UN Should Follow

Global counterterrorism is pursued through a closed institutional infrastructure. It includes UN entities, among which the Office of Counter-Terrorism (OCT). FATF recommendations are internationally endorsed global standards against money laundering and terrorist financing to enable countries to tackle illicit use of the financial systems. The FATF’s approach has been criticized as enabling governments to target civil society through repressive financial regulation.

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North Macedonia: Human Rights Protection and COVID-19

COVID-19 has accelerated the erosion of democratic values across the world, including the Western Balkans. Among the other states in the region, North Macedonia, trying to keep pace with the pandemic’s human rights challenges, has reinforced severe restrictions. The pandemic expanded the current gap between legislation and reality in human rights protection in the country.

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Serbia: The Abuse of Anti-Money Laundry Legislation for the Suppression of Civic Space

After the Administration for the Prevention of Money Laundering sent an official request to all commercial banks in Serbia to provide information and documentation concerning the accounts and financial transactions undertaken by 57 CSOs, media, and individuals, Serbian CSOs have been particularly concerned about the use of oversight powers to target the financing of terrorism

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