News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Target Group: Public and private entities based and registered in CEI Member States (public/public equivalent bodies, private entities, NGOs/CSOs). International Organisations can also apply. Individuals cannot apply. Aim: To strengthen cooperation among CEI Member States, in line with CEI strategic objectives and the Plan of Action, by supporting activities that advance European integration and sustainable
Read more →Short Description: The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) is inviting applications for the 26th edition of its Summer Seminar for Young Public Policy Professionals. The programme brings together young professionals from public institutions, think tanks, and research centres across Central and Eastern Europe to exchange with international experts on regional cooperation, governance, and current political, economic,
Read more →Short Description: The Prize, created in 2013, 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 mobilised public opinion or the international community
Read more →Short Description: A participant-driven forum bringing together young leaders to explore agency and resilience in a fragmented world, exchange ideas, and develop solutions to contemporary global challenges. Target Group: Young professionals, leaders, and changemakers from around the world. Countries: Global (open internationally) Location: Kranjska Gora and Bled, Slovenia Duration: 27 August – 1 September 2026
Read more →Short description: The Think Visegrad Fellowship offers short-term research opportunities for experts from outside the Visegrad region to engage with leading think tanks in Central Europe. Fellows develop a policy paper and deliver a public presentation on a topic aligned with the host institute’s work. Target Group: Expert fellows from non-Visegrad countries (i.e. outside Czech Republic,
Read more →BCSDN contributed to a high-level meeting in Brussels on establishing a European Community of Practice for Human Rights Defenders, hosted by OHCHR. The initiative aims to strengthen coordination, communication, and protection mechanisms for defenders across Europe, though key aspects such as geographic scope are still under discussion. Representing BCSDN, Simona Mladenovska highlighted the need for
Read more →The EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has dismissed a proposal by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to accelerate EU integration for candidate countries without full membership rights. The proposal suggested allowing access to the EU single market and the Schengen area without granting veto power, effectively creating a two-tier
Read more →The Liberties Rule of Law Report 2026 highlights a deepening rule of law crisis across the EU, marked by persistent democratic decline and a widening gap between recommendations and implementation. Drawing on input from nearly 40 organisations, the report finds that 93% of previous recommendations remain unimplemented, with many countries stagnating or backsliding, and some
Read more →A new discussion paper by International IDEA warns that democracy in the Western Balkans is entering a period of deep uncertainty, shaped by shifting global dynamics and internal structural challenges. The report explores how the region’s democratic future could evolve by 2040 through four alternative scenarios, ranging from successful EU-driven consolidation to authoritarian decline. The
Read more →The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) 2026 Civic Space Update highlights a continued deterioration of conditions for civil society across the EU, with 75% of organisations reporting barriers to their work and over 70% noting worsening conditions at EU or national level . CSOs face persistent threats, including online attacks (67%), smear campaigns (60%),
Read more →Freedom House’s Freedom in the World 2026 report confirms a continued global decline in political rights and civil liberties for the 20th consecutive year, with 54 countries deteriorating and only 35 improving, while just 21% of the world’s population lives in “Free” countries. The decline is driven by armed conflict, attacks on democratic institutions, and
Read more →A private criminal lawsuit filed by the Serbian company Millennium Team against N1 journalist Maja Nikolić has raised serious concerns among media freedom advocates, who warn that the case may be intended to intimidate journalists reporting in the public interest. The company is seeking a prison sentence of up to one year, accusing Nikolić of
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