Joint Programme

Horizontal Facility

As European standards on digital governance continue to evolve, regulatory authorities from the Western Balkans Beneficaries gathered in Athens to discuss how to align their frameworks with relevant Council of Europe and European Union’s standards, in particular with the requirements of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).

The regional meeting in Athens “Regulatory Approaches to Harmful Content Online: Towards Alignment with European Standards”, supported by EU and Council of Europe, offered a further opportunity to share experiences, identified challenges, and explore avenues for co-operation. Participants discussed the growing complexity of regulating harmful content online — from disinformation and algorithmic amplification to online abuse. They exchanged with their counterparts from Greece and Italy on practical and institutional approaches to these issues. The exchanges underscored the importance of maintaining a human rights perspective while enhancing transparency, accountability, and user protection in the digital environment.

The regional peer exchange, Regulatory Approaches to Harmful Content Online: Towards Alignment with European Standards, followed up on a first regional Regional Exchange held in June 2024 in Budva, Montenegro. That initial exchange resulted in a Report emphasising the importance of regional cooperation and providing tailored recommendations to strengthen the work of the Regulatory Authorities across the region.

The Athens discussions revealed shared challenges across the region, in particular difficulties related to financial and human resources. Participants also underlined the need for greater political understanding and commitment at beneficiary level to support this process.

“The Western Balkan regulators are sounding the alarm: aligning with the DSA requires sustained support, patience and commitment,” concluded one of the participants.

The Council of Europe confirmed its readiness to continue assisting authorities through capacity building, expert advice, and regional co-operation platforms such as this one. Future activities may include tailored training on human rights aspects of the DSA, and the development of a regional perspective document identifying shared priorities and opportunities for joint approaches.

The event was organised, by the Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression, under the regional action "Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media in the Western Balkans (PRO-FREX)," part of the joint programme of the European Union and Council of Europe "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye 2023-2026".