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, environmental campaigns in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and long-standing demands for institutional reform in Montenegro, citizens are increasingly challenging not only individual government decisions but also the way public institutions exercise power. Despite their different triggers, these movements share common demands for transparency, meaningful public participation, stronger institutions and accountability. Together, they suggest that governance-related grievances are becoming a defining feature of civic mobilisation across the region, reinforcing the need for an EU enlargement process anchored in credible democratic reforms. Read more here.
Source: BiEPAG