What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

CfA: Research Forum Workshop (Happening: 3 March)

Target group: Individuals working/interested in Research and Innovation or Research and Innovation Funding Countries: International/ Europe Short description: Philea’s Research Forum is organizing a workshop exploring several approaches to research funding by foundations, be it for the selection of project proposals or for non-competitive funding. Hosted by the Foundation for Polish Science, the meeting will

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CfA: Václav Havel Human Rights Prize (Deadline: 30 April)

Target group: Civil activists with outstanding achievements Countries: International Short description: The Prize aims to reward outstanding civil society action in defending human rights in Europe and beyond. Candidates should have made a real difference to the human rights situation of a given group, been instrumental in uncovering large-scale systemic violations or have successfully mobilized

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Main Takeaways from Civil Society and Think Tank Forum 2022

The Aspen Institute Germany and the Southeast Europe Association have published the recommendations-based conference report from the Civil Society and Think Tank Forum of the Western Balkans Summit, which happened in Berlin in late 2022. Key subjects of this year’s CSF were the Green Agenda, sustainable infrastructure investments, information disorder, and the EU integration process

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Open Balkans, Berlin Process, and EU`s Acquis

The European Policy Institute – Skopje has published a policy brief that examines thoroughly the Open Balkan Initiative. Although regional cooperation is not a newly introduced concept, the publication emphasizes that what makes this idea different from the previous ones, is that it is homeborn, created, and led by the countries themselves. The document further

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Combatting the Risk of Misuse of Non-profit Sector for Terrorist Financing in the Western Balkans

As part of the regional workshop on “The risk of misuse of non-profit organizations for terrorist financing in the Western Balkans”, held in Tirana, BCSDN member Partners for Change and Development Albania presented the Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment Methodology for CSOs. The two-day event focused on the common understanding of global standards of relevance in

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The EU Recovery Strategy: A Blueprint for a More Social Europe or a House of Cards?

The policy paper published by the European Trade Union Institute explores the EU recovery strategy with a specific focus on its potentially transformative aspects vis-à-vis European integration and on its implications for the social dimension of the EU’s socioeconomic governance, intending to reflect on whether the established measures put forward sufficient safeguards against the specter

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North Kosovo: Time to Turn to Civil Society

The evolving relationship between Kosovo and Serbia, facilitated by the European Union, is facing its sternest test since 2011 when barricades throughout north Kosovo reflected a situation threatening to spiral out of control. To supplement however this path towards sustainable peace, the EU must consider how it can better engage those constructive voices from civil

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Dutch Public Opinion on EU Membership of the Western Balkans

The Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG) has published a survey examining the attitudes of the Dutch population towards EU enlargement in the Western Balkans. It presents the perception of previous EU enlargement steps, and the general view of the EU, following the 2019 Dutch parliament veto on EU accession negotiations with Albania, which alongside the

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UN Report on Civil Society Perspectives in Engagement in Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism in South-East Europe

The UN report reflects the outcome of a hybrid roundtable on CSOs’ engagement in countering terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism in South-East Europe. The document notes that most of the SEE countries have adopted comprehensive national counter-terrorism strategies, and there is a trend of increasing engagement and openness among member states in the

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