Skopje, 29.07.2025 – The Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) has released its “Key Takeaways of the 2024 MM Report”, which highlights the challenging operational landscape for civil society organizations (CSOs) in the region. The report, based on the Monitoring Matrix methodology, points to a concerning gap between legal protections and their practical implementation.
Key Insights from the Report:
While legal frameworks in the Western Balkans and Türkiye generally remain in place, their effectiveness is consistently undermined by issues in institutional practice, political will, and financial infrastructure. This has a significant impact on CSO sustainability and independence, exacerbated by democratic backsliding and hostile narratives.
Read the Key Takeaways for Crucial Recommendations:
The report provides vital recommendations for policymakers, donors, and international partners to safeguard civic space, including:
Establishing legally binding frameworks for state-CSO cooperation.
Protecting the integrity of the civic sector from undue influence.
Ensuring timely, inclusive, and transparent policymaking with genuine CSO engagement.
Addressing the critical need for sustainable funding for CSOs.
Proactively protecting civil society actors against harassment and restrictions.
The full details of these findings and recommendations are available in the Key Takeaways document. We urge all stakeholders to review these crucial insights and collaborate to support reforms that protect civic space as a cornerstone of democracy and EU integration in the Western Balkans and Türkiye.
The complete report, including detailed country-level data and methodology, is accessible on the Monitoring Matrix interactive web platform and can be downloaded as a PDF file at this link.