News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Short Description: The re:constitution Fellowship Programme offers 15 Fellowships to early- and mid-career scholars and practitioners to research, collaborate, and publish on issues related to democracy and the rule of law in Europe. Target Group: Early- to mid-career scholars and practitioners working on democracy and the rule of law, including academics, legal professionals, public officials,
Read more →Short Description: The Netherlands Helsinki Committee, Leiden Law School, and The Hague Academy for Local Governance, commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, invite government officials, policy advisors, and judiciary members to participate in hybrid training courses aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and promoting best practices in the rule of law. Participants
Read more →New EU initiatives, including the EU Civil Society Strategy, the European Democracy Shield, and preparations for the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, signal a shift toward making civic space, participation, and civil society protection central conditions for accession rather than peripheral concerns. These developments are unfolding amid growing political pressure on civil society within the EU
Read more →A new national report published by BCSDN member Partners Albania provides the first in-depth look at community foundations in Albania, highlighting both challenges and growth opportunities. While the country has over 13,000 NPOs, community foundations remain limited, with “Korçarët Ndihmojmë Korçarët” (KNK) the only formally registered foundation as of 2025. The report, using the 4Cs
Read more →A growing consensus is emerging across the democracy, governance, and civic-space field: sustaining democratic practice depends less on technocratic solutions and more on the relational and connective work that holds societies together. Practitioners, funders, and researchers increasingly point to the importance of translation, trust-building, and the “soft infrastructure” that enables collective action under pressure. This
Read more →Public procurement represents around one third of global government spending, totaling an estimated 10 trillion dollars annually, yet most procurement data remains inaccessible or difficult to analyze. Only a small share is published as open, machine-readable data, limiting the ability of journalists, civil society, and oversight bodies to identify corruption risks. This lack of transparency
Read more →The Government of North Macedonia’s Department for Cooperation with NGOs has published a questionnaire for CSOs to assess the implementation of the Action Plan of the Government’s Strategy for Cooperation with and Development of Civil Society 2025–2028 in 2025. The form asks NGOs to provide information about their sector of work, participation in policy‑making processes,
Read more →For BCSDN, 2025 marked a period of consolidation and increased influence within the regional advocacy landscape. We have released several key pieces of research and tools aimed at strengthening democratic participation. We have concluded a new Monitoring Matrix cycle, with an annual regional report on the civil society environment, and launch of an interactive Monitoring
Read more →Throughout Europe’s history, moments of mass mobilisation have marked demands for democratic change. In 2025, renewed civic mobilisation has re-emerged across the continent, including through large-scale student-led protests in Serbia against systemic corruption and governance failures. This mobilisation is unfolding alongside mounting restrictions on civic freedoms. The European Civic Forum’s latest Civic Space Report documents
Read more →Managed by BIRN, the SPEAK platform provides a secure and anonymous channel for reporting digital rights violations across the Western Balkans and neighbouring countries, enabling citizens, journalists, and activists to document illegal surveillance, data misuse, online harassment, and disinformation. Using BIRN’s ECR tool, the platform ensures anonymity while exposing how digital abuses increasingly shape civic
Read more →The Aspen Institute has released its new study, capturing key insights and policy recommendations from its October 2025 Tirana conference. The publication analyzes how rapid technological shifts, demographic changes, climate pressures, and geopolitical tensions are reshaping the region’s labor markets and social cohesion. It highlights civil society as a key actor in managing structural change
Read more →North Macedonia is advancing a new legal framework for associations and foundations aimed at aligning the sector with EU and Council of Europe standards. The proposed law seeks to strengthen the civil society framework through clearer rules on public support, CSO participation in decision-making, non-profit principles, transparency, and institutional cooperation with public authorities. It also
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