What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

CfA: Enhancing Regional Cooperation and Mobility of Young Researchers in the Western Balkans (Deadline: 5 October)  

Target group: Young researchers from Kosovo, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. Countries: Kosovo, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. Short description: Enhancing Regional Cooperation and Mobility of Young Researchers in the Western Balkans program offers an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience and deepen their knowledge on thematic areas of their neighbouring countries. The project aims to increase

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CfA: Youth Actively Create Opportunities Activity Active Grant Applications (Deadline: 9 October)

Target group: Youth groups and youth-serving organizations, the private sector, community organizations, private education and training institutions, professional or business associations, NGOs, and partnerships of the abovementioned organizations. Countries: North Macedonia Short description: The overall goal of the USAID Youth Actively Create Opportunities Activity is to increase positive youth contributions to society and collective youth leadership

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CfA: WB6 MEDIA: Support to Media Freedom and Pluralism in the Western Balkans (Deadline: 15 October)

Target group: Independent media organisations, national and local media outlets, and other media actors operating in the region of WB6 Countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia Short description: The programme implemented by GIZ in collaboration with Internews and DW Akademie, is aiming to enhance the capacities of professional independent media organisations to

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Furthering the Dialogue with Council of Europe on AML/CFT issues in WBT

Following the letter sent to the Council of Europe where we expressed concerns and reservations over the Report on the regional terrorism financing risk assessment of the not-for-profit (NPO) sector in the Western Balkans and Türkiye, the Council of Europe (CoE) initiated a meeting with BCSDN and all signatories of the letter to further the dialogue on the

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Civil Society State of the Union Report 2023

Civil Society Europe has issued the Civil Society State of the Union report, directed at EU institutions and Member States. The report focuses on strengthening democracy, fundamental rights, and the civic space within the European Union. It presents a collective vision from civil society and vital recommendations to promote a more democratic, socially equitable, and

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Civil Society and Think Tank Forum of the Berlin Process on 14-15 October, Tirana

The Open Society Foundations–Western Balkans, in partnership with the Government of Albania and ELIAMEP and CDI, is hosting the 2023 Civil Society and Think Tank Forum. This event fosters dialogue among civil society, public authorities, EU representatives, donors, and stakeholders from the Western Balkans and EU member states. Seven working groups advocate with Western Balkan

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CPDE and BCSDN at the SDG Summit 2023

Convened by the President of the General Assembly, the SDG Summit 2023 marks the halfway point to the deadline set for achieving the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Summit on September 18-19, 2023, in New York, aims to address global crises and renew enthusiasm for this agenda. CPDE’s involvement includes

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EC Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on European Cross-border Association

The proposal stems from the EP resolution of 17 February 2022, aiming to promote associations and other NPOs in the EU in completing the internal market, protecting their fundamental rights, and fostering an EU democratic space. The European Commission answered positively sharing the need to create an enabling environment for the non-profit sector, out of

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Assessing the European Citizens’ Panels: Greater Ambition Needed

More than a year has passed since the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) concluded its unprecedented, deliberative exercise that put citizens front and centre in the discussions on the future of the EU. An inter-institutional effort by the EC, EP, and the Council, the CoFoE brought citizens together in four transnational citizens’ panels

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EU: Republika Srpska Defamation Law Against Bosnia’s European Path

The EU has expressed its concern about the enforcement of amendments to the criminal code of the Republika Srpska entity, which reintroduces criminal penalties for defamation. The EU’s position is that this legislation has come into force in the Bosnian Serb entity and that these legal changes impose unnecessary and disproportionate restrictions on independent media

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CASE Coalition: Serbia Ranked 10th in Europe in the Number of SLAPPs

The CASE coalition, a network of organizations combating SLAPP lawsuits in Europe, has released an updated report detailing SLAPPs prevalence and impact. SLAPP suits are legal actions designed to intimidate media outlets and individuals into silence, rather than seeking legitimate legal outcomes. The report reveals that over 250 SLAPP cases were documented in the past

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