What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

CfA: Call for Papers for an Edited Volume: Civil Society Resistance to Authoritarianism (Deadline: 1 December)

Short Description: Call for country and thematic chapters for an edited academic volume examining how civil society responds to and contains authoritarian threats. Contributions may analyse country experiences or cross-country themes and strategies, including protests, strategic litigation, coalition-building, international advocacy, digital security, monitoring, and responses to propaganda and disinformation. Selected chapters should be up to

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2026 European Commission Rule of Law Report Highlights Persistent Civic Space Challenges in Enlargement Countries

The European Commission has published its 2026 Rule of Law Report, including country chapters for Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. The report identifies persistent challenges affecting civic space, including pressure on civil society and journalists, SLAPPs, political interference, restrictions on fundamental freedoms, and limited access to information. It also highlights uneven public consultation practices,

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Civil Society & Think Tank Forum 2026 (5-7 October, Prishtina)

The Civil Society & Think Tank Forum (CSF) 2026 will take place from 5–7 October in Prishtina, organised by the Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans in partnership with the Government of Kosovo and in cooperation with the Government of Montenegro under the Berlin Process Chairmanship. As the official civil society platform of the Berlin

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BIRN Report Highlights Rising Digital Rights Threats Across the Western Balkans and Türkiye

BIRN’s latest regional digital rights report documents 152 violations recorded in the first quarter of 2026, highlighting increasing pressure on digital rights across the Western Balkans and Türkiye. The report identifies economic fraud, online harassment, gender-based violence, data breaches and coordinated attacks targeting journalists and civil society as the region’s most pressing digital rights challenges.

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Albania Advances EU Accession with First Three Negotiating Chapters Closed

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

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Media Freedom in Serbia Faces Deepening Crisis, New Report Warns

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

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Albania: Civil Society and Independent Media Call for the Protection of Civic Space

More than 30 Albanian CSOs, independent media outlets and human rights defenders, including BCSDN member Partners Albania, have issued a joint public statement condemning recurring smear campaigns and public attacks against journalists, activists and civil society. The signatories warn that these attacks are part of a broader pattern aimed at shifting attention away from issues

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Serbia’s Cluster 3 Stalemate Reinforces the Need for Credible Democratic Reforms

Serbia’s failure to open Cluster 3 in its EU accession negotiations has reinforced concerns that meaningful democratic reforms remain a prerequisite for further progress in the enlargement process. Despite legislative efforts and last-minute reform commitments, persistent shortcomings in the rule of law, judicial independence, media freedom, institutional accountability and alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign

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Croatia: Journalists Call for Stronger Protection Against SLAPPs

The Croatian Journalists’ Association (HND) has renewed its call for the full decriminalisation of offences against honour and reputation, urging the Government to remove insult and defamation from the Criminal Code as part of the upcoming legislative amendments. While welcoming Croatia’s new Anti-SLAPP law, HND warns that its safeguards do not extend to criminal proceedings,

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Albania’s “Flamingo Revolution” Raises Concerns over Civic Space and Online Manipulation

Albania’s “Flamingo Revolution,” which began in opposition to controversial tourism developments affecting protected natural areas, has evolved into a broader anti-government movement demanding political accountability. The latest protests escalated into clashes between demonstrators and police outside Parliament, while journalist Vjolanda Peca of Citizens.al was reportedly arrested while covering the demonstrations, prompting renewed concerns over media

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Civic Mobilisation Across the Western Balkans Signals Growing Demands for Accountability

Recent civic mobilisations across the Western Balkans point to a broader shift from issue-specific protests towards demands for accountable governance, institutional transparency and democratic responsiveness. From the Novi Sad railway station tragedy and environmental protests against the Rio Tinto project in Serbia, to demonstrations over the Zvërnec–Narta development in Albania, anti-corruption protests in North Macedonia,

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