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News and updates from BCSDN and the region

Monitoring the Enabling Enviroment

EU: Inquiry into European Complicity in Croatian Border Violence Against Migrants and Refugees ‘Significant’

The European Ombudsman’s Office has declared that it will open an inquiry into the possible inadequacy of the European Commission to certify that Croatian authorities upheld fundamental rights while undertaking EU-funded border activity against migrants and refugees. The reaction comes after Amnesty International’s complaint in September 2020 that the Commission failed to address reports of

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Monitoring the Enabling Enviroment

Defending Activists and Journalists, Global Report Published

Open Government Partnerships (OGP) has published a global report bringing light to the freedoms of activists and journalists that continue to face threats around the world. Both activists and journalists are crucial for open government insofar as they function as critical intermediaries, connect public institutions and decision-makers with the population, and introduce accountability measures. The

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Monitoring the Enabling Enviroment

Expert Council on NGO Law Calls for the Revocation of the Greek Ministerial Decision 10616/2020 on NGOs

The Expert Council of NGO Law has released an Addendum that addresses Greece’s inconsistencies with respecting freedom of association and impeding the civil society space. The Council calls for the Greek Government to review a previous Ministerial decision committed to the registration, certification, and operation of NGOs to guarantee civil society space, in line with

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UN Human Experts Alert: Anti-terrorism Laws are being Misused to Crack Down on Civic Space in Serbia

The human rights experts addressed their concerns about using surveillance powers by the Serbian government to obtain banking and financial information on transactions of over 50 NGOs, media associations, and individuals. In a statement, they noted that the unjustified use of the Serbian Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism

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Open Government Reforms and Increased Civic Space Are Key to EU Membership for the Western Balkans

Transforming civic space is a key determinant to the sustainability of democratic reforms in the Western Balkans. Open Government Partnership (OGP) suggests frameworks to address key issues on transparency, civic participation, and public accountability, together with a process to establish greater engagement with civil society. The six WB countries have adopted over 350 commitments of

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Can EU Law Be (Mis)used to Crack Down on Civic Space?

Under EU rules, a member state targets CSOs with a heavy level of transparency reporting due to worries that CSOs can easily be used to disguise money laundering activities. However, these EU laws can become a facilitator for negatively impacting the civic space and work of CSOs, as seen in cases such as the debate

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Monitoring the Enabling Enviroment

SEE Governments Continue to Undermine Right to Information Under Cover of COVID-19

The COVID-19 has had a chilling effect on people’s right to information in Central and Southeast Europe. A number of countries adopted legal measures that temporarily altered or suspended obligations about the right to information. Yet, with the COVID-19 measures eased, BIRN journalists presented that many countries are suspending or delaying freedom of information requests,

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Monitoring the Enabling Enviroment

Romanian NGOs Condemn Threat to Limit Access to Information

Five Romanian NGOs in an open letter have condemned legislation that would limit the state’s requirement to supply public information. They argue that the legislative change would make access to information a more financially costly process, restricting the exercise of a fundamental right, thus undermining the state’s transparency. While the Romanian Government installed temporary restrictions

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Monitoring the Enabling Enviroment

Turkey: Monitoring Committee Condemns New Crackdowns On Political Opposition and Civil Dissent

PACE’s Monitoring Committee has strongly condemned new crackdowns on political opposition and civil dissent, the Turkish authorities to improve the conditions for democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. In a draft resolution, PACE observed various concerns over Turkey’s external activities, including military operations, and urged the authorities to take action to better these

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