What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

The General Affairs Council of the European Union Adopts Enlargement Conclusions, Highlights Next Steps for Candidate Countries

The EU’s General Affairs Council (GAC) reaffirmed its commitment to enlargement, emphasizing the strategic importance of EU membership for the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova. Montenegro remains the most advanced candidate, with Member States ready to begin “in due time” preparations for the accession treaty of the country. The Council urged Serbia to show strong

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WeBER III Platform Policy Brief: Law on Senior Civil Service – Is the Government Hesitant to Adopt it?

The latest WeBER policy brief on the Law on Senior Civil Service emphasizes the need for a professional, impartial, and effective public administration as a cornerstone of democracy. Merit-based recruitment, especially for senior civil servants, ensures transparent selection processes, aligns decisions with ethical standards and government priorities, and strengthens institutional integrity. By prioritizing competencies over

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BCSDN 2023 Regional Report on Civil Society Environment: A Complex Reality for CSOs in the Western Balkans and Türkiye!

We gladly present our 10th Monitoring Matrix Regional Report, synthesizing insights from the BCSDN members country reports on the civil society environment in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Türkiye in 2023. Under revised methodology, the report evaluates 22 standards across three core areas: Basic Freedoms, Financial Viability, and State-CSO Relations.

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Partners Albania Announces the Launch of Resilient Balkans Fund

BCSDN member Partners Albania for Change and Development announced the launch of the Resilient Balkans Fund, a transformative sub-granting initiative supporting individual activists and social movements in the Western Balkans. As part of the Powered by the People (PxP) initiative (2023–2028), led by Partners Global and funded by USAID, the fund aims to address critical

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EU TACSO 3 Launches Beneficiary Impact Survey 2024

The EU TACSO 3 team has launched its 2024 annual impact survey to gather feedback from civil society and other stakeholders about the project’s effectiveness. The survey aims to assess the reach and impact of EU TACSO 3 activities. The feedback collected will help shape future planning for 2025 and beyond. Participation ensures that diverse

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BCSDN Analysis of the 2024 EC Enlargement Package: The Need for Clear Benchmarks to Strengthen Civil Society in Enlargement Countries

We are pleased to present BCSDN’s 15th analysis of the European Commission’s reports on civil society development and its dialogue with public institutions. Although the European Commission provides an analysis of the civil society environment, some critical aspects are overlooked and are addressed in our findings. Based on the BCSDN Monitoring Matrix, this year’s analysis

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Regional Conference and Anti-SLAPP Contest: Voices Without Fear in the Western Balkans

The Regional Conference on SLAPPs, held in Belgrade on 28 November, brought together activists, journalists, legal experts, and civil society to address the misuse of SLAPPs in the Western Balkans. During the panel “Protection Mechanisms: Can We Rely on Our Legal Systems for Protection?” BCSDN ED Biljana Spasovska spoke about aligning regional efforts with international

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OECD Practical Guide for Policymakers on Protecting and Promoting Civic Space

The Practical Guide for Policymakers builds on the OECD’s 2022 global report on civic space, offering actionable steps to protect and promote it as a cornerstone of democracy. Drawing from insights across 52 countries, it outlines 10 key recommendations, addressing freedoms of association, expression, and assembly, alongside online and media protections. The guide emphasizes the

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Global Expression Report 2024: Half the World Faces a Freedom of Expression Crisis

The latest global analysis reveals a growing freedom of expression crisis, with over half the world’s population—4.2 billion people in 39 countries—now living under severe restrictions. In 2023, India’s downgrade to “Crisis” significantly contributed to this increase. Despite some positive shifts in countries like Brazil and Fiji, declines outnumber improvements. Key trends highlight worsening conditions

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