NCEU sent a letter to the President of the EC: EU should not turn its backs on Serbian citizens
Program Council of the National Convention on European Union Dear Ms. von der Leyen, Serbia is currently experiencing a serious political and social crisis, which deepens by the day. The tragic accident in Novi Sad on November 1st last year, in which 15 people lost their lives, sparked a wave of student protests. They believe that the accident was a direct consequence of severe corruption during the reconstruction of the Railway Station building. This is just one of many infrastructure projects that remain non-transparent to the public under the pretext of international cooperation agreements. For three months now, mass peaceful…
Student protests in Serbia focused on institutions and the rule of law
Interview: Nataša Vučković (CDF) for TVP World about the current political situation in Serbia Young people in Serbia ask for more rule of law and democratic and accountable institutions „The students don’t focus on elections, they focus on institutions and the rule of law. They demand that the judiciary fully independently fulfills its role in bringing to justice all the responsible for the big tragedy in Novi Sad. That’s mainly the demand of the student protests that started really as an authentic movement of young people who wanted to have more rule of law and democratic and accountable institutions“, said…
Serbian President Must Stop Targeting Civil Society Representatives
The Center for Democracy Foundation (CDF) is a member of the Program Council of the National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) The National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) strongly condemns the public targeting of Maja Stojanović and Civic Initiatives – coordinator of the Intersectoral Working Group for Freedom of Expression and Media – by the President of the Republic of Serbia. This targeting has resulted in daily threats and intimidation through government-aligned tabloids. False accusations regarding her alleged role in organizing student protests have been used to pressure the proposers and candidates involved in the selection process for…
Environmental Issues as Drivers of Youth Activism in the Western Balkan
Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe project Written by Laila Šašivarević, a volunteer at the Center for Democracy Foundation within the Regional Volunteering Program under „Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe“ project, supported by European Union. Apathetic, lazy, and apolitical – these are the adjectives that have been used for years to describe young people, not only in the Western Balkans but globally. However, the situation today seems different. In the context of the transformative student protests in Serbia, last year’s global student protests against the occupation of Palestine and the war in Ukraine, as well as numerous environmental protests led by…
Members of the Council for Creating a Supportive Environment for Civil Society Development Freeze Their Membership Due to Threats to CSOs’ Work
Members of the Council for Creating a Supportive Environment for Civil Society Development, from civil society organizations (CSOs), inform the public that they have unanimously decided not to participate in the Council’s activities or attend its sessions for the foreseeable future. Membership in this body of the Government of the Republic of Serbia will be suspended until the circumstances that have led to the threat to the functioning of civil society in the Republic of Serbia and the violation of national and international regulations and strategic documents in this area are identified and resolved. This decision was made in light…
Politeia Thematic Session: Education and Policy Making in the Western Balkans
Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE The Politeia Thematic Session on Education and Policy Making in the Western Balkans was organised by the Network of Progressive Initiatives from Sarajevo (NPI) from 21 to 23 January 2025 in Sarajevo. The aim of the session was to provide participants with the knowledge on educational policies, public policy documents structure, policy-making processes, and their impact on youth in the region. The session gathered 12 young participants, including 3 CSOs representatives, 5 youth activists, 3 decision makers, and 1 youth political party members. A total of 2 of them where from Albania, 3…
The National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) condemns the intimidation and deportation of 14 foreign citizens from Serbia
The National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) condemns the detention, deportation, and entry bans imposed on citizens from the regional and EU countries who participated in a conference organized by the Erste Foundation in Belgrade. This action is seen as a continuation of the pattern of intimidation and threats against civil society activists, under the pretext of involvement in so-called “color revolutions” and other activities that some institutions deem to be security risks. Such actions violate both domestic legal norms and the obligations Serbia has undertaken in its EU accession process. Additionally, they harm the country’s international reputation and…
CDF supports student demands
The Center for Democracy Foundation supports the demands of protesting students. Shared demands of students in blockade: – Publication of the complete documentation on the reconstruction of the Novi Sad railway station – Dismissal of criminal charges against students who were arrested and detained during protests, as well as the termination of ongoing criminal proceedings – Prosecution of those responsible for attacks on students and professors, and their dismissal if found to be public officials – A 20% increase in the budget for higher education Center for Democracy Foundation
CDF Condemns the Deportation of Civil Society Activists from the Region and the EU
Press release issued by the Centre for Democracy Foundation The Centre for Democracy Foundation strongly condemns actions taken by Serbian authorities regarding the detainment and deportation of civil society activists from Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Albania, and North Macedonia, who attended the ERSTE Foundation NGO Academy in Belgrade. The arrest, unfounded questioning, declaration as a “threat to national security,” and subsequent deportation of civic activists are acts of repression. Such moves undermine trust between Serbia and these countries. This could seriously jeopardise collaboration with EU member states, whose activists were deported, as well as Serbia’s position in accession negotiations. For years,…
The Credibility of the Process for Selecting the New REM Council Has Been Seriously Undermined
The National Convention on the European Union in Serbia (NCEU) warns the national and international public, particularly relevant European Union institutions, that the Committee on Culture and Information of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia is actively undermining the credibility of the process for selecting the new members of the Council of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM). Considering that the REM Council is currently non-functional due to the Committee’s unlawful delay in initiating elections for new members, the NCEU emphasizes that appointing an independent and professional REM Council is a key obligation under Chapter 23 of…
Roundtable in Valjevo: Human Rights and Environmental Protection as a Shared Responsibility – Dialogue for Sustainability
Initiative for Global Solidarity (IGS) On 16 January 2025, the Centre for Democracy Foundation organised a roundtable in Valjevo as part of the Initiative for Global Solidarity (IGS) project, entitled Human Rights and Environmental Protection as a Shared Responsibility: Dialogue for Sustainability. The roundtable brought together representatives from the business community, local government, trade unions, academia, and civil society organisations. The aim was to jointly explore opportunities for improving the protection of labour rights, human rights, and the environment through the application of responsible business principles and collaboration among all stakeholders. Participants included: Sanela Bahtijarević, German Organisation for International Cooperation…
Public debate on “The Impact of Migration on Regional Youth: Workforce in Transition”
Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE The Kosovar Stability Initiative (IKS) from Pristina organized a public debate on “The Impact of Migration on Regional Youth: Workforce in Transition” on 15 January 2025 at Europe House in Pristina. The aim of the event was to foster dialogue on youth migration, economic opportunities, and public policy challenges. The debate brought together 26 participants from various categories, including representatives of civil society organizations and youth organizations, public institutions, the youth council, youth activists, political parties, and the media. The event was moderated by Mrs. Shpresa Demhasaj, who facilitated the discussion and engaged…
