Balkan civil society development network

2016

ISBN: 978-608-65991-1-9

Abstract: The development of civil society in the Western Balkan countries and Turkey (WBT) was predetermined by the region’s historical, political, economic and cultural development. Vast majority of the countries of the Western Balkans were under socialist rule and they are still in transition into full democratic systems. The evolution of the civil society started in the 1990’s and has up until now significantly progressed in the development of the enabling legal environment for the operation of the civil society. In order to monitor progress with the enabling environment, the Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN), the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL) and group of experts developed a Monitoring Matrix on Enabling Environment for Civil Society Development and accompanying Toolkit1 that guides the monitoring process. This report summarizes the key findings from 8 country reports in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia) and Turkey. These reports were prepared by BCSDN member organizations in 2013 and early 2014. The main aim of the Regional Report is to identify the key common issues across the region, in order to highlight the priorities for intervention on regional level, and to support efforts of civil society organizations (CSOs), public authorities and the European Union (EU) in the creation of a more conducive environment for civil society.

Keyword(s): Research ; Western Balkans ; toolkit1