News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Resolution on forced labor in the Linglong factory and environmental protests in Serbia has been adopted in the European Parliament with the support of 586 MEPs. The resolution expresses concerns over recent human rights organizations’ findings and reminds that there have been serious allegations against the Chinese company Linglong Tire in Zrenjanin, regarding the working
Read more →Skopje-based think-tank Eurothink has publicly promoted the findings of their annual EuroMeter Survey. EuroMeter is a survey that for many years examines the opinion of citizens on issues related to European integration and citizens’ trust in state institutions. This year’s findings show a 2 percent increase in citizens who believe the EU membership is a
Read more →A group of think-tank researchers has published an opinion piece on the Kosovar visa liberalization issue. The article states that in order for Kosovo to move forward the government(s) need to address the concerns raised by the member states, by implementing concrete actions. The group of authors’ sublimated policy recommendation would be for Kosovo to
Read more →Regional cooperation has been the cornerstone of our work, the reason for our existence – and this year, we are celebrating 20 years of eventful and successful collaboration! In the past two decades, as the landscape in which CSOs are acting has changed significantly, many obstacles have been overcome through joint actions and mutual support
Read more →BCSDN has successfully conducted a two-day research partners workshop in Belgrade, on 13-14 December. During the first day, our member representatives were exploring the topic of development effectiveness and building their capacities for strengthening and promoting cooperation for effective development. The regional training on effective development cooperation is part of the activities under BCSDN’s three-year
Read more →CIVICUS Monitor has launched the latest Global Data Report – People Power Under Attack. This annual report takes a closer look at trends and top violations to the civil rights in each of the 197 countries and territories monitored. Out of 54 countries monitored within Europe and Central Asia, civic space is rated as open
Read more →The 2021 EU-Western Balkans Summit organized by Friends of Europe took place on the 7 December. The Summit aimed to engage with themes such as sustainable recovery, trade and investment, youth issues, and the role of civil society to foster pathways to regional cooperation, resilience, and inclusion. BCSDN’s Executive Director took part in the session
Read more →The European Commission released its annual report on the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the EU. This is the first report following last year’s strategy to strengthen the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the EU, which announced annual reports with thematic focuses. The 2021 report focuses on the challenges
Read more →The latest results of the survey published by the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG) paint a negative picture of the European Union’s standing in the public perception of Western Balkans. While most of the citizens of the region still support the EU accession, they are increasingly sceptical that this will happen and the
Read more →A worrying trend of endangering the right to assembly and excessive use of force by the coercive apparatus has been observed in the past few weeks in Serbia. In mid-November, civil society concerns focused on the ban on rallies in protest of the arrest of civil activists who expressed their revolt against Ratko Mladic’s mural
Read more →In a letter signed by 53 CSOs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, civil society has raised concerns about the difficult political situation the country has been faced with in recent months, the rising tensions, and even threats to the peace in the country. Noting that many uncertainties mar the negotiations on the future of BiH, the
Read more →The annual EU-Western Balkans Summit organized by Friends for Europe will take place virtually on Dec 7th. This year’s summit is moving from a problem-solving dynamic to asset-based approach focused on fresh policy perspective on how to strengthen and develop the Balkan region and close the gap to the EU. Titled “Shifting the narrative –
Read more →