In line with the Statute of BCSDN, a member of the network must fulfill the following two criteria:

• Work and contribute to strengthening and/or developing civil society in the Balkan region through activites such as advocacy and capacity development; and
• Be a civil society organization, which is registered according to the national laws of its country.

Member organizations agree that the underlying function of membership criteria should be to have updated and active members. Therefore, an organization that does not participate to two subsequent SG meetings will no longer be a member.

According to the Statute of BCSDN, an organization acquires member or consultative status when it fulfills the following criteria:

• Expresses interest in and formally states its acceptance of BCSDN’s vision and mission; and
• Is recommended by at least 2 organizations holding a member status, of which one has to be from the same country as the candidate organization, if there are organizations with member status from the same country.

New members or consultative organizations are then accepted by a simple majority vote by the Council.

A member organization may have its member status terminated if it:

• Does not participate in two subsequent Council meetings without justified cause;
• Violates the Statute or other BCSDN Acts;
• Does not pay membership fees for two consecutive years;
•  Works contrary to the goals, task and reputation of the BCSDN; and
•  Is any other situation envisaged with the Law or the Statute of BCSDN.

The decision to revoke the membership status of an organization is taken by simple majority of all organizations with member status present at a Council meeting.