News and updates from BCSDN and the region
On the occasion of the informal summit discussing the vision of the future of the EU after Brexit, civil society from all parts of the Union sent European leaders an open letter with an appeal to Europe what its residents need. The summit in Romania’s Sibiu will bring together the leaders of the EU countries
Read more →The Deputy Prime Minister of North Macedonia and Minister of Defense Radmila Sekerinska made a statement to the media in which she affirmed the end of the “Desorosoization process” – the intuitional attack on thousands of Macedonian citizens and 22 CSOs in the country. The process of targeted financial inspections started in 2016, led by
Read more →Nearly two decades after the cessation of violent conflict in the Western Balkans and efforts by the international community to support democratic reform, analysis suggests that most countries in the region are losing ground on the rule of law, media freedoms, and democratic accountability more generally. Meanwhile, authoritarian powers such as Russia, Turkey, China, and
Read more →After years of taking the Western Balkan region for granted, there were great expectations that the European Commission’s strategy paper published in February 2018 would herald a new and more determined EU engagement. Unfortunately, this has not been the case, raising serious concerns as to whether some member states fully grasp what is at stake
Read more →The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held its seventh Western Balkans Civil Society Forum with the support of the European Commission and the Regional Cooperation Council. The forum brought together representatives of Western Balkans trade unions, employers and civil society organisations, EESC members, representatives of the governments of the Western Balkans, and EU and
Read more →Under the auspices of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, International Conference on Agenda 2030: Partnerships for Sustainable Development took place on the 16th of April, at the Palace of Parliament, in Bucharest. The Conference was organised by the Department of Sustainable Development within the Romanian Government and aimed at strengthening the coordination for
Read more →The 2019 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders published on April 18th noted significant declines over the past year in levels of press freedom in Serbia, Albania and Moldova while the situation was improving in North Macedonia, Croatia and Kosovo. Serbia was ranked in 90th place in the media watchdog’s world rankings, down
Read more →On April 5th, Partners Albania launched the National Resource Centre for Civil Society in Albania, a platform for civil society at the national level to…
Read more →The Global Civil Society Summit held on 8 April in Belgrade, Serbia, as part of the ICSW 2019, around 150 leaders and CSO representatives gathered to unite in the fight for democratic participation and civic freedoms. The Summit launched a Call to Action, calling for international and national civil society civil society to stand together
Read more →From 8-12 April in Belgrade, some 900 human rights campaigners, civil society leaders and engaged citizens met for the International Civil Society Week (ICSW) 2019 – a global civil society gathering co-hosted by CIVICUS, Civic Initiatives (Serbia) and BCSDN. Throughout the ICSW, it was evident that individuals and organisations are increasingly under attack in many countries. Activists,
Read more →More than five months after it approved a highly restrictive law, the Kosovo Parliament on 15 April voted on the amendments proposed by the Office of the President of Kosovo on the NGO Law, in line with best international standards and practices, and civil society demands. Since November 2018, around 300 Kosovar CSOs came together to prevent
Read more →According to the 8th annual State of Civil Society Report by CIVICUS, 2018 was another year of immense contestation for fundamental rights. On the one side stood rising right-wing populists, authoritarian presidents, large corporations with few scruples and anti-rights groups. Yet, on the other side, progressive, rights-oriented civil society and citizens bravely stepped forward to
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