For BCSDN, 2025 marked a period of consolidation and increased influence within the regional advocacy landscape. We have released several key pieces of research and tools aimed at strengthening democratic participation. We have concluded a new Monitoring Matrix cycle, with an annual regional report on the civil society environment, and launch of an interactive Monitoring Matrix platform designed to track developments affecting civil society across the Western Balkans in real time. The network also played an active role in shaping regional, and EU-level discussions, contributing to the development of the EU’s first Civil Society Strategy and offering critical input on the 2025 EU Enlargement Package. Additional research on donor strategies and support examined the long-term sustainability of civil society in the region, with particular attention to the role of international and bilateral donors in the region. We have also examined gaps in how gender equality is addressed in the region’s civic and policy frameworks, as well as the launch As we look ahead to 2026, we signal a continued emphasis on strengthening regional ties and maintaining a strategic, long-term approach to advocacy. Read more here.
Source: BCSDN
