Horizontal Facility - News
Increasing the efficiency of North Macedonia’s penitentiary network – stakeholders discuss key recommendations
Prison governors, judges, representatives of Ombudsman’s Office, the academia and civil society representatives gathered in Skopje to discuss key recommendations to increase the penitentiary network efficiency, following the assessment mission that took place in January 2025, supported through...
Empowering a new generation of anti-racism trainers in Eastern Europe and Western Balkans
As part of its ongoing efforts to advancing anti-discrimination policies in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions, the Council of Europe launched a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme. This initiative brings together over 30 participants, including representatives from public...
Call for Applications: Design and development of the website of the Committee on National Minorities in Albania
The Council of Europe is currently implementing the action on “Advancing the Protection from Discrimination in Albania” which is part of the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye III”, a joint programme of the Council of Europe and the European Union aiming at supporting...
Countering SLAPPs at the University of Montenegro
Over 60 law and journalism students at the University of Montenegro took a stand against legal intimidation and threats to media freedom by participating in the country’s first-ever university lecture on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). Organised under the joint EU and...
Montenegrin journalists trained to stand strong against legal intimidation
Journalists in Montenegro strengthened their ability to recognise and respond to Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs) during a two-day training supported by the joint EU and Council of Europe action „Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in Montenegro”. SLAPPs are...
Call for grants to support activities on combating hate speech in North Macedonia
Within the framework of the joint European Union/Council of Europe Horizontal Facility programme and its action on “Combating Hatred and Intolerance in North Macedonia”, the Council of Europe is launching a call for grants “Support to local self-governments and/or CSO-s for combating hate...
Prosecutors strengthen capacities to uphold media freedom and protect journalists
Safeguarding media freedom and ensuring the safety of journalists are essential components of a democratic society and the rule of law. Prosecutors play a key role in preventing and responding to threats, violence, and legal harassment targeting media professionals. To strengthen prosecutorial...
Shaping a gender-sensitive future in journalism
Recognising the media’s powerful role in either reinforcing or challenging gender stereotypes, the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS), held a workshop in Belgrade to equip young journalists and journalism students with the tools to report through a...
Constitutional Court of Montenegro strengthens human rights jurisprudence through expert meeting in Podgorica
In a continued effort to enhance the application of human rights standards in jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court of Montenegro, a working meeting was organised with the aim to address complex legal issues that often result in varying interpretations of constitutional rights. The event,...
Building the next generation of free legal aid providers in North Macedonia
Legal clinics authorised to provide primary legal aid play a vital role in promoting access to justice and upholding human rights in line with European standards. In a continued effort to strengthen equal access to justice in North Macedonia, 16 law students participated in the second cascade...
Albanian Parliament assisted in reviewing the new Anti-Corruption Action Plan, in line with European standards
The joint European Union and Council of Europe Action against Economic Crime supported Albania’s Ad Hoc Parliamentary Commission in reviewing and strengthening the draft Action Plan on anti-corruption, as part of the broader agenda to deepen reforms in the areas of good governance, rule of law...
Get to know the most recent publications published under the Horizontal Facility programme
In this edition of Highlights, we present the main publications produced in the framework of the Horizontal Facility III programme aiming to enhance knowledge and bring European standards in various areas closer to the beneficiaries in the Western Balkans and in Türkiye. The ECtHR has developed a...
Improving penitentiary healthcare system – North Macedonia’s and Kosovo* authorities exchange best practices
A delegation from North Macedonia, consisting of medical personnel working in penitentiary institutions, senior officials of the Ministry of Health, as well as the Acting Head and key representatives of the Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions (DES), visited Kosovo on 3-4 April 2025. The...
Judicial Academy’s initial training beneficiaries learn to apply the European human rights standards
In January and April 2025 the joint European Union and Council of Europe action Strengthening human rights protection in Serbia and the Judicial Academy of the Republic of Serbia (JA) continued with organisation of practical trainings on various Articles of the European Convention on Human Rights...
Advancing anti-corruption reforms in Albania: from education to concrete transformations
“...Since my studies, I have had a particular interest in engaging in the field of the fight against corruption. I see it as a major challenge for our country and, above all, as an urgent issue, especially in the context of Albania’s integration path into the European Union. Personally, I aim to...
Strengthening freedom of expression: Public institutions and media actors define common priorities
Public institutions and media actors reaffirmed their commitment to advancing freedom of expression and aligning media and legal practices with European standards. The second meeting of the Steering Committee of the Action “Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media” took place in...
Constitutional courts in the region strengthen human rights protections through dialogue
Judges and advisers from the constitutional courts of Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia gathered in Belgrade on 31 March and 1 April 2025, to advance application of human rights standards in their judicial work. The regional working meeting provided a platform for legal experts to...
Regional constitutional courts deepen cooperation on implementation of human rights standards
Judges and advisors of the constitutional courts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia gathered at a regional working meeting held in Belgrade on March 31 and April 1, 2025, to exchange experiences, share best practices, and strengthen the application of relevant standards of the...
From classrooms to communities, schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina embrace change
In the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a transformative approach to education is reshaping schools into hubs of democratic culture, critical thinking, and community engagement. At the forefront of this change are three schools - each a newly established resource centre for democratic school...
Venice Commission provides important opinions for the authorities in Kosovo*
The Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism (ECM), a unique instrument in the hands of the public stakeholders in the Western Balkans and Türkiye, continues to provide essential legislative expertise and policy advice, as a key support for the Beneficiaries to meet their reform agendas in the fields of...
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