What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

FRA Consultation 2024: Experiences of CSOs Working on Human Rights in the EU and in Selected Candidate countries (Deadline: 7 April)

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) invites CSOs working on human rights in the EU and selected candidate countries to participate in its consultation, assessing the challenges faced by CSOs, their staff, and volunteers, as well as the support and protection they need. The consultation seeks experiences and suggestions on the general situation of

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European Parliament to Establish a Western Balkans Office in Tirana

The European Parliament will open an office in Tirana, Albania to strengthen engagement with the Western Balkans, enhancing ties with national parliaments, civil society, and local partners. The office will promote EU accession efforts, support democracy and institutional reforms, and assist with MEP visits. This move reflects the EU’s commitment to deepening cooperation with candidate

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Defending Civic Space in EU Enlargement: Key Takeaways from BCSDN’s High-Level Policy Dialogues in Brussels

From February 24-26, BCSDN and partners conducted a high-level advocacy visit to Brussels, engaging with EU policymakers, civil society, and think tanks. The key event, Western Balkans Civil Society Policy Dialogues in Brussels: How Do We Get to Enlargement That Delivers?, organized in cooperation with the Think for Europe Network and Open Society Foundation –

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EESC Announces Civil Society Week 2025 (March 17-20) Focused on Cohesion and Participation

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has announced that Civil Society Week 2025 will be held in Brussels from March 17-20, focusing on “Strengthening Cohesion and Participation in Polarised Societies”. The event will address the challenges posed by recent crises, including the pandemic, climate change, rising living costs, and income disparities, which have deepened

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European Parliament’s AFET Committee Reviews Draft Reports on Serbia and Kosovo

The European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) has reviewed draft reports on Serbia and Kosovo, emphasizing the need to relaunch dialogue and advance rule of law reforms. The report on Serbia, led by MEP Tonino Picula, rapporteur for Serbia, acknowledges the country’s formal commitment to EU integration but raises concerns over judicial independence, alignment

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BCSDN: Fallout of the US Funding Freeze Puts Western Balkans Civil Society Under Attack

The U.S. administration’s 90-day freeze on foreign aid, including USAID funding, has severely impacted civil society in the Western Balkans. The decision has disrupted critical programs supporting independent media, marginalized groups, economic competitiveness, and citizen participation. Beyond the immediate financial fallout, the freeze has emboldened nationalist and right-wing actors to escalate attacks on civil society.

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Western Balkans Policy Dialogues in Brussels: How do We Get to Enlargement that Delivers? (25 February, 15:30h CET)

BCSDN and Think for Europe Network (TEN) are organizing the Western Balkans Civil Society Policy Dialogues in Brussels. This high-level event, hosted and moderated by the European Policy Center (EPC), will bring together leading CSOs, policy experts, EU officials, and representatives from Member States to explore the evolving challenges and opportunities in the EU enlargement

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EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos Responds to the Political Crisis in Serbia

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos addressed concerns about Serbia’s political situation in both an open letter and a speech at the European Parliament plenary debate. In the letter, she responded to Serbian academia, political representatives, and CSOs, stressing the need to respect freedom of assembly. She condemned violence against demonstrators, urged a full investigation

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Commission Directorate-General to Focus on Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood

As of 1 February, the European Commission has launched the Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST) to oversee enlargement policy, accession talks, and regional cooperation. It will manage communication on enlargement benefits, as well as financial and technical assistance for candidate countries and Eastern Neighbourhood states, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus. DG ENEST

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BCSDN Condemns Escalating Smear Campaign Against Civic Initiatives and Maja Stojanović

BCSDN strongly condemns the ongoing smear campaign against prominent civil society activist Maja Stojanović, Executive Director of Civic Initiatives and BCSDN Board Member, as well as broader attacks on independent civil society in Serbia. While public smearing of Civic Initiatives has persisted for months, recent weeks have seen intensified disinformation and intimidation, particularly in response

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