News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The European Commission has published the executive decision on the financing of the multi-country multiannual action plan on an EU Civil Society Facility and Media Programme in favor of the Western Balkans and Turkey for 2021-2023. The decision on the Civil Society Facility and Media Programme for the Western Balkans and Turkey consists of a
Read more →The report titled “Democracy and Emergencies: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic for democratic resilience” presents a series of 20 recommendations, directed at government leaders, public institutions, and civil society in all democratic countries. It puts forward concrete, feasible suggestions to strengthen democracies’ ability to keep their democratic institutions working in emergencies; to protect fundamental rights
Read more →Transparency International published the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for 2021 on January 25, ranking and scoring the state of the countries regarding the state of corruption and (un)democratic practices. According to this year’s ranking, Montego holds 46th place making it one of the 3 top-ranked countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Meanwhile, Turkey and
Read more →On 25 January OECD has reached a decision to open accession discussion with six candidates to OECD Membership – Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Peru, and Romania. Ahead of the candidate countries lays the process of creating roadmaps for the detailed assessment process will now be prepared provided those countries confirm their adherence to the values,
Read more →Complementing their ongoing tracking of civic space on the CIVICUS Monitor the CIVICUS Alliance has launched the CIVICUS Lens – new analysis and commentary initiative that highlights stories of civic action and civil society breakthroughs. Baring in mind CIVICUS`s scope of research – contemporary political, economic and social trends and their impact on civil society,
Read more →Acknowledging the limited space for contribution to the DG NEAR/TACSO consultations on the first regional call of the IPA CSF and Media Programme 2021-2023, both in terms of time available and structure of the survey itself, BCSDN has prepared a statement with more detailed feedback, while expressing serious concerns over the effectiveness and credibility of
Read more →The EU has been unsuccessful in its efforts to promote rule-of-law reforms in the Western Balkans, the EU’s auditors said in their latest report. The bloc spent about €700 million between 2014 and 2020 to help WB countries make headway on reforms in areas such as independence of the judiciary and fundamental freedoms, but the
Read more →This 32nd annual World Report summarizes human rights conditions in over 100 countries and territories worldwide in 2021. Countries covered from this region are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia and Turkey. The report notes that there was little visible progress on human rights BiH, as public officials stirred xenophobia, failed to tackle discrimination, and put
Read more →The Serbian CSO Coalition prEUgovor demands an urgent response from the authorities due to the latest attacks on independent journalists, representatives of civil society, foreign countries and opposition parties, made by pro-government media. The reaction refers to a broadcast of a video with dangerous and false accusations that these individuals were involved in alleged preparations
Read more →The Prosecution in Sofia has confirmed it is investigating a range of cases of threats and intimidation targeting journalists, activists and politicians – and undermining media freedom. They concern journalist Atanas Tchobanov, activist and Sofia City Councillor Boris Bonev, the “We Continue the Change” MP Hristo Petrov, as well as new Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov.
Read more →Dealing with the legacy of the past is still highly relevant in the Western Balkans today. Following the conflict in the 1990s, transitional justice efforts have so far failed to live up to the promise of ‘never again’. In spite of the urgency to focus on prevention, there is however currently no political will to
Read more →A recent article published by the Guardian referring to an analysis that reveals widespread violations of international democratic freedoms in response to the pandemic, states five of 18 eastern European countries have registered major violations of international democratic freedoms since March 2020. The research conducted by the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute, notes the worst
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