News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Marking three decades since the Srebrenica genocide, civil society across the region is renewing calls for remembrance, justice, and resistance to historical revisionism. The July 1995 massacre, in which over 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were executed, remains the most severe atrocity in Europe since WWII. It has been officially recognized as genocide by both
Read more →On 28 June 2025, Serbia’s national holiday Vidovdan, tens of thousands of citizens joined a mass protest in Belgrade demanding early elections, government accountability, and systemic reforms. Initiated by students and supported by teachers, farmers, and civil society actors, the protest represents the culmination of the eight-month movement sparked by the deadly Novi Sad station
Read more →In its official reaction to the European Parliament Bureau’s decision to establish a Working Group on the transparency and efficiency of EU NGO funding, BCSDN raises concerns about the potential implications for the enabling environment of civil society in Europe. The network cautions that, while transparency remains essential, existing financial controls are already extensive and
Read more →The project Together for Green Advocacy for Environmental Protection (ZZZ) was formally launched with the thematic forum “From Diversity to Justice – Equal Right to a Healthy and Sustainable Environment for All”, held at Europe House Skopje on 20 June. Led by the Center for Youth Activism KRIK, the Center for Social Initiative NADEZH, and
Read more →The recent Civic Space Hackathon, organized by BCSDN in Skopje, successfully united civic activists, tech experts, legal professionals, communicators, and web designers from across the Western Balkans to develop innovative solutions for a more resilient civil society. Addressing critical challenges like eroding public trust from smear campaigns and disinformation, and undermined independence due to restrictive
Read more →The civil society landscape in the Western Balkans is facing unprecedented challenges, a critical issue highlighted at the 13th POINT Conference held in Sarajevo on May 29-30. Toshe Zafirov, BCSDN’s Communications and Advocacy Officer, represented the network at the conference, discussing a pressing topic: “Civil Society Between a Rock and a Hard Place—How to Navigate
Read more →The European Commission has launched public consultations on the upcoming EU Civil Society Strategy, to be open for input from 13 June to 5 September 2025. The EU Civil Society Strategy will provide a comprehensive framework for action at EU and Member State level, aimed to protect, empower, and strengthen engagement with civi society. The
Read more →Europe is experiencing a dangerous rollback of civic freedoms, in a context where the promise of universal rights and democratic values, enshrined in the EU treaties, is being steadily eroded by interconnected economic, social, cultural, and political factors. The European Civic Forum, in its latest Civic Space Report, documents an “unprecedented and intensified attack” on
Read more →Skopje was the backdrop for the third convention of the Engaged Democracy Initiative (EDI), where nearly 100 activists, journalists, and changemakers converged from across the Western Balkans. Hosted by the European Fund for the Balkans (EFB) from 21-23 May, the event carried the theme “Engage, Inspire, Empower!” and tackled pressing regional issues, including environmental degradation,
Read more →Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina – The civil society landscape in the Western Balkans is facing unprecedented challenges, a critical issue highlighted at the 13th POINT…
Read more →The triple nexus discourse—linking humanitarian, development, and peace efforts—has emerged in response to a world marked by escalating conflict, widespread fragility, and increasing humanitarian needs. Today, one quarter of the global population lives in fragile contexts, and signs of fragility are becoming evident in more countries than ever before. Observers warn that no country is
Read more →Civic space in the Western Balkans and Türkiye is under threat. Governments are enacting restrictive laws, silencing media, and using financial and legal pressure to marginalize civil society. Protest rights are curtailed, defamation is criminalized, and SLAPP lawsuits target activists and journalists. With public funding scarce and politically controlled, independent CSOs struggle to operate, leaving
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