News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Short Description: Facing Facts is offering a three-week online course designed to equip participants with the tools and knowledge needed to understand and respond to hate speech. The course provides a deep dive into legal frameworks, practical strategies, and the Digital Services Act (DSA), with a focus on building collaborative and effective responses. Target Group:
Read more →Short Description: The Politik-Her Final Conference “From Vision to Impact” will take place on 10 September 2025 in Brussels, marking the conclusion of a project dedicated to empowering young women in local democratic processes. The one-day hybrid event will feature keynote speeches, roundtables, and participatory workshops on inclusive policy-making, gender equity, and intercultural dialogue. Target
Read more →BCSDN has released its latest Monitoring Matrix report offering the most comprehensive regional assessment of civic space in the Western Balkans and Türkiye during 2024. Backed by a decade of on-the-ground monitoring, this year’s report sounds the alarm: while legal guarantees for civil society remain on paper, their enforcement is collapsing under political pressure, hostile
Read more →In the opinion published following the Plenary Session 598, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is strongly advocating for institutionalized civil and social dialogue in EU candidate and partner countries. This call was made during its plenary session in mid-July 2025, where an Enlargement Forum also highlighted the role of social dialogue, civil society,
Read more →CIVICUS Monitor has published its July 2025 Watchlist, identifying six countries where civic freedoms are under serious and escalating threat, including two countries from the region – Serbia and Türkiye. This marks the second consecutive Watchlist in which Serbia has been included, reflecting deepening concerns over government-led smear campaigns, legal harassment of civil society actors,
Read more →The Western Balkans Disinformation Center released an analysis on fake news in Serbia, highlighting a pro-government media campaign targeting student protests and university blockades over six months. These outlets aim to discredit activists by spreading falsehoods about their motives and funding, especially after a peaceful student event with European Parliament rapporteur Tonino Picula was portrayed
Read more →The European Commission has published a detailed briefing on the rule‑of‑law conditionality mechanism included in the 2021–2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), highlighting its role as a key element in protecting the EU budget from violations of fundamental principles. The mechanism, fully in effect since January 2021, gives the Commission the authority to take measures—such as
Read more →The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has updated its Guidance on Financial Inclusion and Anti-Money Laundering measures to help countries and the private sector expand access to formal financial services while maintaining risk-based controls. The guidance links financial inclusion to effective detection of illicit activities, emphasizing that increased access improves transparency and law enforcement’s ability
Read more →Since 2014, the Spitzenkandidat system was introduced to boost democratic legitimacy by linking voters to the European Commission president’s selection through party lead candidates. Used for Juncker and von der Leyen, it has fallen short: rather than fostering debate or accountability, it created institutional confusion, strengthened the Commission politically, and weakened Parliament’s oversight—resulting in a
Read more →The new toolkit offers practical guidance for aligning actions, including monitoring restrictions, sharing information, engaging constructively with governments, and implementing measures that minimize harm. It emphasizes collaboration among donors, international organizations, civil society, and local actors, highlighting the importance of inclusive, well-informed partnerships. Better coordination among these actors is needed to ensure effective efforts and
Read more →As digital threats and geopolitical tensions increase, cybersecurity is a key priority for the Western Balkans’ EU integration. The six countries—Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia—seek phased access to EU cybersecurity structures, starting with ENISA observer status. Currently, candidate countries have limited access, but the EU Cybersecurity Act revision offers a
Read more →The Report prepared by Metamorphosis outlines key digitalization and cybersecurity goals with a June 2025 deadline, and plans for 2026 and 2027. It highlights North Macedonia’s strategic roadmap toward EU integration, emphasizing reforms that affect EU funding and membership progress. After the 2022 Intergovernmental Conference, the country accelerated efforts, especially in digitalizing public administration to
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