From February 24-26, the Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) and its partners conducted high-impact advocacy visit to Brussels, engaging with key EU policymakers, civil society representatives, and think tanks. The highlight of the visit was the high level event: Western Balkans Civil Society Policy Dialogues in Brussels: How Do We Get to Enlargement That Delivers?, organized together with the Think for Europe Network, and Open Society Foundation- Western Balkans, in the framework of the IGNITA initiative, held on February 25 at the European Policy Centre. The event reinforced the EU’s transformative role in enlargement by prioritizing democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, while advocating for sectoral integration, civil society’s role in accountability, and a value-driven approach to accession, including through initiatives like the Growth Plan.
Civil Society in EU Accession: A Key Driver of Democratic Reform
The event brought together key voices from EU institutions, civil society, and media to discuss the renewed momentum in EU enlargement, the shrinking civic space in the Western Balkans, and the role of civil society in safeguarding democracy. Speakers highlighted the risks of an accession process that prioritizes speed over democratic integrity, warning that neglecting civic space and fundamental freedoms threatens both the credibility of the EU and the future of democracy in the region.
Ms. Valentina Superti, Director at WB at DG ENEST, European Commission, opened the discussion by reaffirming that EU accession remains a merit-based process, requiring irreversible reforms in the rule of law, democracy, and human rights. She emphasized that civil society is essential in anchoring democratic reforms, with EU support reflected in political engagement, financial assistance through IPA III, and the upcoming EU Civil Society Strategy. She also highlighted the renewed political momentum for enlargement within the new European Commission, underlining the role of Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, who has called on candidate countries to demonstrate unity and inclusiveness as they move forward in the accession process. In his address, Mr.Gordan Bosanac, Greens/EFA MEP warned that civil society’s role in the Western Balkans’ EU accession process has significantly weakened, especially compared to previous enlargements like Croatia’s. He criticized the European Commission’s approach, particularly in Serbia, where democratic backsliding is being overlooked. He called on the EU to step up its support for civil society, ensuring that the push for enlargement does not come at the cost of democratic standards.
Civic Space at a Crossroads: Why EU Enlargement Must Prioritize Democracy
The discussion continued with speakers highlighting the shrinking civic space and worsening democratic backsliding in the Western Balkans, warning that an accession process lacking civic space protections could weaken both democratic progress in the region and the EU’s credibility. 
Mr. Taulant Hoxha, KCSF Executive Director and BCSDN Board Chair, argued that the EU’s failure to uphold its commitments has weakened civil society’s ability to hold governments accountable. He emphasized that civil society is a key democratic actor that should be formally integrated into the EU accession process rather than treated as an external stakeholder. Unlike governments, Balkan civil society has consistently resisted autocratic regimes and championed democratic reforms, making its inclusion in the European civic space far less complex than state accession. He stressed that delayed or inconsistent EU action strengthens authoritarian tendencies in the region, making democratic progress increasingly difficult.
Ms. Biljana Spasovska, BCSDN Executive Director, welcomed the renewed momentum for EU enlargement but stressed that it must not come at the expense of fundamental freedoms. Highlighting the escalating crackdown on civil society in Serbia as part of a wider regional trend, she called on the European Commission to establish a binding framework for democratic safeguards with clear indicators on civic space, institutional independence, and citizen participation. She also urged the European Parliament to push for a resolution embedding civic space protections in the EU accession process, warning that neglecting these principles would weaken both regional democracy and the EU’s credibility.
Mr. Nikola Burazer, Executive Editor at the European Western Balkans, reinforced this concern, arguing that the EU’s current approach fails to address democratic regression, particularly in Serbia, where financial investigations, smear campaigns, and restrictive policies are increasingly used to stifle media freedom and civil society voices. He criticized the EU’s focus on progress while ignoring backsliding, warning that superficial reforms should not be legitimized. Instead, he urged the EU to take a firmer stance on media freedom, improve its communication on democratic failures, and hold governments accountable for systemic repression. The speakers collectively called for a more structured and enforceable EU approach to protecting civic space, warning that without stronger safeguards against democratic backsliding, the enlargement process risks becoming a technical exercise rather than a genuine democratic transformation.
The Growth Plan: A Path to Reform or a Transactional Tool?
The second session of the event explored the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, assessing its potential to drive both economic and democratic reforms while questioning its implementation, conditionality, and civil society involvement. Mr. Andi Dobrushi, ED of the Open Society Foundation Western Balkans, set the stage by recognizing the political uncertainty in the region and emphasizing that the Growth Plan, while a step forward, must not replace enlargement but instead serve to strengthen governance and trust in institutions. Mr. Valbona Zeneli, Nonresident Senior Fellow, at the Europe Center Atlantic Council, expanded on this, arguing that the plan’s real impact depends not on the financial aid itself but on its ability to attract serious foreign investment. However, she warned that unclear conditionality and weak enforcement mechanisms could allow governments to bypass necessary reforms.
Ms. Milena Mihailović-Denić, Program Director at the European Policy Centre and Mr. Stefan Ristovski, Senior Researcher at the European Policy Institute, Skopje, highlighted the lack of transparency and inclusivity in how reform agendas were developed, noting that civil society was largely excluded from the process. This exclusion raises concerns over who shapes these reforms and whether they will lead to lasting change. While Mihailović-Denić underscored the inconsistencies in reform measures across countries, Ristovski warned that without proper engagement, the Growth Plan risks becoming a transactional tool—where reforms are performed merely to unlock EU funds, rather than to drive real transformation. Both emphasized that sustained monitoring by civil society is essential to prevent the plan from being reduced to a bureaucratic exercise rather than a catalyst for systemic reform.
A Call for Credibility and Civil Society Inclusion
Both sessions concluded with critical reflections on public engagement in governance and reform processes. Questions were raised about the effectiveness of civil society participation, particularly in Serbia, where institutional barriers hinder meaningful dialogue. Concerns were voiced over the transparency of EU-driven reforms, the disconnect between democratic progress and EU accession, and whether the EU will effectively enforce its conditions or continue financial support despite governments failing to uphold democratic principles. Participants stressed that for the Growth Plan to truly serve its purpose, it must go beyond economic incentives and reinforce the core democratic values that make EU membership desirable. The overarching conclusion was clear: without active public participation, independent oversight, and genuine accountability, reform efforts risk becoming superficial, and democratic backsliding remains a significant threat.
As part of our Brussels advocacy efforts, we engaged with key EU civil society organizations, including the European Civic Forum and Philea, for insightful discussions on EU-level developments impacting civic space and opportunities for collaboration.
Additionally, we met with MEPs and high-level officials, including representatives from the Cabinet of EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, to address civic space challenges in the Western Balkans and explore ways to strengthen protections for civil society. The Cabinet of Commissioner Kos reaffirmed her personal commitment to ensuring a strong civil society as an essential pillar of the EU enlargement process and democracy. They emphasized the Commissioner’s dedication to increasing financial support for civil society in the Western Balkans and the wider neighborhood.
Our advocacy efforts culminated in a BCSDN members’ meeting, where we strategized on advancing the network’s advocacy goals in response to the region’s pressing civic space challenges.
Watch the full video of the event HERE.
