News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Albania has provisionally closed its first three negotiating chapters in its EU accession process, marking a significant milestone on its path towards EU membership. At the ninth Accession Conference, the country closed the chapters on Science and Research (25), Education and Culture (26), and External Relations (30) following the European Commission’s positive assessment of its
Read more →A report by the IPI and Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium warns that media freedom in Serbia is facing a deepening crisis. The findings point to record levels of violence against journalists, death threats, online smear campaigns, SLAPPs, surveillance and growing political control over the media landscape. In 2025 alone, 209 press freedom violations
Read more →The European Commission has launched a Call for Expression of Interest for membership in the new Civil Society Platform, a key deliverable of the EU Strategy for Civil Society. The Platform will provide a permanent and structured framework for dialogue between the Commission and civil society on democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights, equality
Read more →The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will host its High-level Debate on EU Enlargement 2026 on 16 July in Brussels, bringing together EU institutions, governments and organised civil society to discuss the future of enlargement. The event will be opened by EESC President Séamus Boland and Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, while Valentina Superti,
Read more →Thirty European civil society networks, including BCSDN, have urged the Council of the European Union to strengthen, not reduce EU investment in democracy by increasing the AgoraEU budget and safeguarding funding for the CERV+ programme in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The joint letter warns that proposed budget cuts come as CSOs across Europe
Read more →The Annual Western Balkans Perception Surveys 2026, conducted under the WeBalkans project, show that public support for the European Union remains strong across the Western Balkans, with Serbia standing out as the only country where support for EU membership does not exceed 60%. Albania records the most positive perception of the EU (82%), followed by
Read more →A coalition of Serbian CSOs, including BCSDN member Civic Initiatives has called for the urgent establishment of an independent UN fact-finding mission to investigate the alleged use of an acoustic device during the 15 March 2025 protest in Belgrade. The organisations express serious concern that the investigation has shifted away from determining responsibility for the
Read more →The European Union is developing new safeguard mechanisms aimed at ensuring that future member states continue to uphold democratic standards, the rule of law, and EU commitments after accession. Speaking to POLITICO, the European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos confirmed that the European Commission is exploring measures such as transitional periods and post-accession safeguards that
Read more →Civil Society Europe has launched preparations for the Civil Society State of the Union 2027, inviting EU-level CSOs to contribute to a collective assessment of democracy, civic participation and key societal challenges across the European Union. Building on previous editions published in 2023 and 2025, the report aims to complement the European Commission President’s annual
Read more →The “Flamingo Revolution” has become one of Albania’s most prominent environmental civic movements, driven by concerns over legislative changes that weaken protections for protected areas and enable large-scale tourism and infrastructure developments. Led by environmental organisations and supported by citizens nationwide, the campaign has focused on safeguarding the Vjosa-Narta Protected Area, one of the Mediterranean’s
Read more →Ahead of the publication of the European Commission’s 2026 Rule of Law Report, 37 civil society, human rights, journalism, and media organisations have called for a more robust and action-oriented approach to protecting the rule of law across the EU and candidate countries. They argue that the annual report has become a routine monitoring exercise
Read more →Eurothink – Centre for European Strategies has published the 2026 edition of its Eurobarometer survey, examining citizens’ perceptions of democracy, EU integration, foreign policy, public institutions and information sources in North Macedonia. The findings show a moderate recovery in support for EU membership, with 58% of respondents viewing accession as beneficial and 66% considering the
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