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Balkan Civil Society Development Network

BCSDN

Our Vision BCSDN envisions the Balkan region is part of the European Union and made up of inclusive and functioning democracies which offer an enabling environment for civil society, peace. Our Mission Protect and expand the civic space through evidence-based and collaborative policy influence on international, European, and national level. Our Goals 1.Advocating for the protection and expansion of civic space 2.Securing more favourable donor practices for protection and expansion of the civic space 3.BCSDN strengthens its mutual learning, coordination, and collaboration for strengthened advocacy on civic space

Lobbying Activity

Response to EU Civil Society Strategy

5 Sept 2025

The Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN), together with 107 endorsing CSOs across the region, strongly welcomes the European Commissions initiative to adopt the first-ever EU Civil Society Strategy. This represents a historic opportunity to establish an ambitious and coherent framework that not only supports civil society actors in their mission to advance the public good, but also affirms them as indispensable pillars of democracy, fundamental rights, and the rule of lawvalues enshrined in the Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Yet the urgency of this Strategy cannot be overstated. Across Europe - both within the Union and in candidate countries - civic space is under intensifying pressure. CSOs and human rights defenders face smear campaigns, surveillance, and SLAPPs; restrictive and foreign agent laws; state capture of funding through government-organized NGOs (GONGOs); and financial precarity exacerbated by global donor withdrawals and bureaucratic funding models - creating an environment where meaningful civic participation is becoming less and less possible. We stress one overarching principle: the EU must apply consistent standards of civic space protection and meaningful engagement both within the Union and in its external policies. Civil society in accession countries and in EU member states be guided by the same standards and should benefit from the same recognition, safeguards, and opportunities. BCSDN brings more than a decade of evidence and lessons from the Western Balkans and Türkiye. Our Monitoring Matrix provides comparative data and defines normative standards that states should meet if they are to foster a strong, independent civil society. The Matrix has informed key EU policy frameworks, most notably the EU Guidelines for Support to Civil Society in Enlargement Countries, which remain the cornerstone of EU support in the region. This experience proves that standard-setting, coupled with structured monitoring and dialogue, can shift practice and anchor civic space as a central element of enlargement policy. The new Strategy must build on this tradition by setting out enforceable standards, equipping the EU with tools to defend civic space, and institutionalizing civil societys role as core democratic infrastructure. It should close the gap between internal and external EU action by creating one coherent civic space framework, with concrete benchmarks, that applies equally across Member States and accession countries. For enlargement societies, this Strategy is more than a policy exercise - it is a test of the EUs consistency and commitment to its democratic promise. Civil society has been on the frontlines of reforms, often stepping in where institutions failed, defending rights when governments regressed, and mobilizing citizens in the face of repression. But this role is sustainable only if the EU provides meaningful backing: through protection against attacks, long-term and direct funding to local actors, and institutionalized participation in policymaking and accession reforms. Our contribution therefore provides concrete recommendations structured around three pillars: Protection, Funding, and Participation. Ultimately, the EU Civil Society Strategy must enshrine one principle: without civil society, there is no democracy, no enlargement, and no resilience. For the Strategy to be credible, its commitments must be matched with binding benchmarks, consistent conditionality, financial commitments linked to the next Multiannual Financial Framework (20282034), and transparent monitoring involving civil society itself, including organizations from enlargement countries, as equal partners in reviewing progress and impact. Only then can this Strategy move beyond declarations into a lasting framework that empowers civil society to continue serving as Europes strongest voice for democracy.
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Meeting with Sebastian Everding (Member of the European Parliament, Delegation chair)

4 Mar 2025 · Introduction meeting

Response to Proposal for a Directive on cross-border activities of associations

28 Oct 2022

BCSDN welcomes this initiative and believes it is vital that all European CSOs, including those from the Enlargement region, have a say in this process. While this will not yet affect CSOs from the Enlargement countries, considering they are expected to eventually join the EU, civil society from the region must already take a more systematic role in the EUs future policy-making processes. Bringing in the Enlargement countries perspective and lessons learned in the scope of the proposal will demonstrate the intrinsic connection and indivisibility of the needs and challenges of civil society in the Union and WBT. Not only would it contribute to a straightforward harmonisation of WBT and EU laws, thus ensuring progress on their accession path, but it would be beneficial also for the EU, as it would make use of already existing and successful initiatives from this region in defining and monitoring common standards that are applicable across borders. One relevant tool is BCSDNs Monitoring Matrix (attached), which presents a comprehensive set of standards (based on internationally guaranteed freedoms and best regulatory practices in Europe) that need to be in place for the legal environment to be considered supportive of the operations and development of CSOs. The MM reports, over the years, have collected valuable evidence of the legal and practical set-up on this issue in WBT countries, which could be used for discerning both positive and negative examples of related regulation. The MM has inspired the EC to develop its own tool, the EU Guidelines for Support to Civil Society in Enlargement Countries, defining the standards for an enabling civil society environment in the Enlargement countries and their involvement in public policy-making and EU integration. Using already developed tools and standards that have duly addressed these issues could significantly contribute to the implementation of this initiative and its harmonisation across all EU policies within and outside its borders. Finally, should this harmonisation be successfully implemented in such a manner, this could allow Enlargement CSOs to both benefit and contribute to the single market, regardless of the stage of their EU integration process. When establishing common minimum standards, the EU must be careful that they do not overregulate or overburden CSOs and thus effectively hamper instead of promote their civic space. These standards must also consider the AML/CFT trends and efforts, noting that new regulations in this area have brought additional restrictions and challenges for CSOs in many countries. An increased understanding of the AML/CFT processes and FATF standards regarding their implications on civil society must not be overlooked. Only harmonised regulation could eradicate barriers and promote the benefit of a single market. While the idea of a single market for associations seems very valuable and promising, it will have a real positive impact only if it aims to prevent restrictions to the civic space and further enable the environment for operations of the sector. Hence, it is paramount to thoroughly analyse all CSOs concerns and all possible intended and non-intended consequences of such an initiative. From enabling new spaces for cross-border activities to any potential misuse of the single market or even new restrictions imimposed by governments prone to illiberal tendencies that contradict the EU values, the proposal must discuss both the positive and negative impact, the potential risks and mitigation measures. Finally, it is crucial that the new EC proposal promotes the CSOs fundamental rights to participate in public and political life and contributes to more substantial civil dialogue and better recognition of CSOs work. This would further contribute to the protection and promotion of the EUs values and send a clear message of support to civil society beyond the EU borders, fostering a pan-European democratic space.
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