Across Europe and the Western Balkans, democratic resilience is tested not only at elections, but in the everyday ability of citizens to organise, protest peacefully, obtain reliable information, scrutinise public decisions and participate meaningfully in policymaking. The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights’ 2026 Civic Space Update identifies continuing obstacles for civil society across Europe: restrictive legal environments, difficulties in accessing sustainable funding, threats and attacks against civic actors, and weaknesses in meaningful consultation. The 2026 Rule of Law cycle highlights smear campaigns, prosecutions of activists, SLAPPs and growing concerns over restrictions on peaceful assembly. 2026 is also a defining year for Europe’s democratic-resilience architecture: EU Member States were required to transpose the Anti-SLAPP Directive by 7 May 2026; implementation of the European Media Freedom Act is moving from legislation to practice; the European Democracy Shield is developing new measures on democratic resilience.
In Albania, these questions have acquired an immediate and highly visible dimension. What began at the end of May as opposition to development in the Vjosa–Narta protected area evolved into months of sustained civic mobilisation known as the “Flamingo Revolution”, demanding profound political change. SCiDEV’s monitoring has highlighted polarisation, attempts to delegitimise journalists and civic actors, pressure on journalists covering demonstrations, selective mainstream coverage, and the growing importance and vulnerability of livestreams, independent media and citizen-generated information. In Serbia, mobilisation triggered by the Novi Sad railway-station tragedy has continued into 2026, and the SafeJournalists Network records pressure on civil society, allegations of excessive police force, deteriorating journalist safety and SLAPP cases against investigative media and CSOs. Legal intimidation remains relevant inside EU Member States too, while Ukraine demonstrates the resilience of journalism and civic information under war, propaganda and cyber threats.
It is against this backdrop that CIVIC_ACT, funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme, convenes its first public roundtable in Tirana. Rather than treating civic participation, media freedom, disinformation, SLAPPs and democratic resilience as separate subjects, the discussion examines how they interact: what generates civic mobilisation; what allows citizens and journalists to sustain scrutiny; what narrows participation; and how civic energy can become lasting democratic influence and stronger institutions.
The agenda of the event is available here: CIVIC_ACT_Roundtable_Agenda_2.10.2026
