The Regional Conference, “Resilient Voices: Western Balkans Civil Society in a Changing World,” held in Tirana, Albania, on October 1, 2025, marks a significant milestone in regional cooperation and collaboration. Hosted by Partners Albania for Change and Development and the Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN), the event was a major success, bringing together over 150 representatives from civil society, policymakers, institutional actors, and donors from across the Western Balkans and the European Union.
The conference served as a powerful platform for action, focusing on how civil society can not only survive but thrive amidst unprecedented political, legal, and financial pressures. The overriding message from the day was clear: Without independent civil society, there is no democracy, no credible enlargement, and no European future for the Western Balkans.
Discussions throughout the day centered on three critical pillars shaping the future of the sector: protecting civic space, ensuring meaningful involvement in the EU integration process, and securing long-term financial sustainability.
1. The Shifting Ground of Civic Space
Experts and activists highlighted the increasing pressure on civic space, citing smear campaigns, administrative hurdles, and the risk of hostile legislation. A key concern raised was the impact of new EU-level regulations, such as the Anti-Money Laundering (AML/CFT) package and the proposed “Defense of Democracy” package. While well-intentioned, CSOs fear that these measures could create significant compliance burdens, restrict financial access, or be misused by governments to stigmatize and label organizations that receive foreign funding.
2. CSOs as Drivers of EU Integration
Participants reaffirmed that the role of civil society must evolve beyond being merely implementers of projects. CSOs are essential “watchdogs” and policy shapers, ensuring that domestic reforms are meaningful and aligned with democratic values. Speakers emphasized the importance of civil society securing formal recognition and funding for this advocacy and monitoring function, and utilizing upcoming EU strategies as leverage to push for necessary legislative changes before a country’s accession, when such reforms become significantly more challenging.
3. The Quest for Sustainability
The conference tackled the “Donor Dilemma”, noting that the sector’s structural reliance on fragmented, short-term project funding is no longer viable. The call to international donors and the EU was urgent: to transition to more flexible, longer-term core funding that truly builds the independence and resilience of CSOs. Furthermore, governments were strongly challenged to end the political manipulation of public funding, which often sees resources channeled to government-organized non-governmental organizations (GONGOs), thereby actively undermining independent scrutiny and democracy.
The Conference Declaration is Coming: A Firm Call to Action
The main outcome of the conference is a draft Declaration that summarizes the day’s discussions into clear calls to action for all stakeholders, which the participating civil society stakeholders will adopt in the coming days. The Declaration’s core demand to the European Union and international donors is to establish the protection of civic space as a fundamental, non-negotiable benchmark for accession and to condition financial disbursements—including those from the new Growth Plan—on upholding the rule of law and fundamental freedoms.
It will also address the issues:
To Western Balkan Governments: Immediately improve transparency, repeal hostile laws, and establish accountable mechanisms for public funding that protect CSOs from political influence.
To Civil Society: Strengthen regional and national solidarity, diversify funding sources, and maintain high standards of integrity and accountability to ensure their vital role in protecting democracy remains unimpaired.
To international donors and the EU: to shift towards more flexible, long-term core funding that genuinely strengthens the independence and resilience of CSOs.
The energy and commitment in Tirana were inspiring, proving that the “Resilient Voices” of the Western Balkans are united and determined to shape a sustainable, European future for the region.
We are pleased to announce that the regional donor research and policy brief, as well as the final text of the Declaration, will be officially published and launched by the end of October. We encourage all partners, policymakers, and media to stay informed about our activities as we utilize this vital evidence to promote the implementation of these non-negotiable standards throughout the Western Balkans and in Brussels.