The European Commission’s 2025 Enlargement Communication presents accession as increasingly attainable but shows that persistent weaknesses in the Rule of Law, democratic institutions, and fundamental rights continue to hinder progress. While some candidates have advanced in key reforms, the report highlights ongoing political polarization, weak oversight, and limited public consultation across much of the region. Shrinking civic space remains a major concern, with restrictive laws, SLAPPs, and intimidation affecting CSOs and journalists. The Commission underscores the need to protect an enabling environment for civil society and investigative journalism as part of the Rule of Law benchmarks. BCSDN will soon publish a new analysis examining how the European Commission evaluates civil society and civic space in enlargement countries, providing deeper insight into trends, gaps, and implications for future reforms. Read more here.
Source: BCSDN; EC
