📢‼️ The government of Republika Srpska has withdrawn the controversial 'foreign agents' bill, citing the need for alignment with European standards!

🔗 Read here for more cutt.ly/6ey2oNif

In solidarity with KRIK and Bojan Elek 💪💪💪

We discussed key developments in #SLAPPs , with Aleksandar Jokic outlining the Anti-SLAPP initiative in BiH, and Karmen Turk explaining the EU Anti-SLAPP directive . Vladyslava Kaplina provided insights on global SLAPP trends. Effective strategies were shared to combat SLAPPs!

@ptrvctrfrom CIVICUS defined #SLAPPs and provided a global background. #ArtanRama , Bojan Elek KRIK, and Denis Mekić shared their SLAPP experiences, support received, and lessons learned. Solidarity is the key element to fighting SLAPPS back! #CivilSociety #Activism

#ArtanRama sharing his struggles as freelance and independent journalist facing #SLAPPs because of his reporting on issues of public interest. BCSDN workshop on #SLAPPs in the #WesterBalkans gathers lawyers, activists, researchers and journalists today in Tirana.

We are continuing our gathering with findings from the first regional research on SLAPPs. Anja and Simona from #BCSDN , along with member organizations’ representatives discussed the legal framework, challenges, and trends. Effective strategies to combat SLAPPs were shared!

We are kicking off with 'SETTING THE SCENE' on Day 1 of our regional SLAPPS workshop and sharing stories from the region that will highlight the impact on public participation. #SLAPPs #CivilSociety #Journalism
Stay tuned!

📢Join us in #WesternBalkans conference:
✌️Success story of 🇪🇺 #enlargement

🗓️24/5 ⏲️09.00📍Ljubljana
🗣️ Oliver Röpke, Tanja Fajon,Majlinda Bregu
📺europa.eu/!8g4xfX

🔷focus on fundamentals
🔷reforms needed
🔷new growth plan
🔷Agenda 👉europa.eu/!BykQTx
European Western Balkans 🇪🇺

📚 The Civic Space Western Balkans Analysis was provided by BCSDN, highlighting freedom of peaceful assembly, interference in journalists’ work, and continued lack of specific forums for dialogue between the state and civil society at federal or state level.

📕 NEW:
European Civic Forum's #CivicSpace2024 report is out today!

In 2023, civic freedoms continued to deteriorate across Europe, despite the EU’s democracy agenda.

Read the report! 👉civic-forum.eu/CivicSpace24

‼️ If passed, the law would restrict the operations of foreign-funded CSOs in the entity, stigmatize them, and create a chilling effect on the freedom of expression.

❗️We at BCSDN express our concerns about the implications of the law – jeopardizing civil society, hindering Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU integration, and further weakening the already fragile democracy.

The Draft Foreign Agents Law is on today's agenda for the 9th meeting of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska!
Activists in Banjaluka protested under the banner 'We are burying democracy in RS', with police checking IDs and issuing fines, obstructing freedom of assembly!

❗️OSCE urges Republika Srpska to reconsider the adoption of the Law on Special Register and Publicity of Non-Profit Organizations!
🔗 Read more here cutt.ly/wetkfTVn

🔗 Check out our latest reaction on the issue cutt.ly/ZetkgyKj

📢Join us in the #WesternBalkans conference:
✌️Success story of 🇪🇺 #enlargement 📍Ljubljana 24/05

🗣️ Oliver Röpke, Tanja Fajon, Dubravka Suica, Majlinda Bregu

🔷focus on fundamentals
🔷reforms needed
🔷new growth plan
🗓️europa.eu/!BykQTx
📺europa.eu/!8g4xfX

#EESC_WB

❗️ BCSDN urges EESC to reconsider the exclusion of Kosovo from the recently established Enlargement Candidate Members Initiative (ECM) and calls on EESC to rectify this oversight and extend eligibility to Kosovo within the current pilot phase.

Read more: cutt.ly/KetrXbcu

👉 Check out ARTICLE 19's campaign #CheckitFirst to promote ethical journalism and prevent the spread of fake news in the Western Balkans!

cutt.ly/4erPvG3Y

📢 Legislative updates from the EU! Recently approved laws include:
🔸 Anti-SLAPP Directive
🔸 European Media Freedom Act (EMFA)
🔸 Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)
🔸 Artificial Intelligence Act

👉 Read more here🔗 cutt.ly/uerbWTkz

📢The manual 'Introduction to Civil Dialogue' by Civil Society Europe addresses the lack of a legal framework for implementing the EU's commitment to open dialogue with civil society.

🔗Read more here cutt.ly/FeeXSl1s

🇪🇺 Celebrating solidarity, democracy and diversity!

#EuropeDay