News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Updated on 6 May 2019: On July 18, 2018, the Turkish government lifted the nationwide state of emergency that was imposed after a failed coup attempt on July 20, 2016. The state of relations between civil society and the government deteriorated throughout 2016-2018. In the new system of government, which replaced a parliamentary system, the
Read more →In recent years, combined with existing threats, the rise of right-wing and nationalist populism across the world has led to an increasing number of governments implementing repressive measures against the space for civil society (civic space), particularly affecting women human rights defenders (WHRDs). This policy brief responds to this context and highlights how the participation
Read more →Financial sustainability is crucial for local CSOs if they are to become resilient, effective organizations. An over-reliance on international funding makes local CSOs vulnerable to changing aid priorities and donor withdrawal. Without this security, local organizations cannot plan for the long-term and have less ownership of the development process. Peace Direct, was involved in a
Read more →A Handbook on Transparency and Citizen Participation in Albania was jointly developed by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and Partners Albania for Change and Development. The handbook serves as a practical guidance on transparency and citizen participation, aiming to support local authorities in their efforts to improve the quality of
Read more →Nearly two decades after the cessation of violent conflict in the Western Balkans and efforts by the international community to support democratic reform, analysis suggests that most countries in the region are losing ground on the rule of law, media freedoms, and democratic accountability more generally. Meanwhile, authoritarian powers such as Russia, Turkey, China, and
Read more →After years of taking the Western Balkan region for granted, there were great expectations that the European Commission’s strategy paper published in February 2018 would herald a new and more determined EU engagement. Unfortunately, this has not been the case, raising serious concerns as to whether some member states fully grasp what is at stake
Read more →The European Union (EU) is currently accepting proposals from eligible organisations for a program entitled “European Instrument for Democracyand Human Rights (EIDHR) 2018-2019 Supporting a civil society through Country-Based Support Schemes (CBSS). Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum EUR100,000 and maximum EUR200,000 amounts. The initial planned duration of an action may not be lower than
Read more →Kosovar Stability Initiative (IKS), Lens and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), are implementing the project “GrassRoots Action Support – GRAS”, funded by the European Union and managed by the European Union Office in Kosovo. About 10 grants for community-based projects will be awarded to third parties. Minimum amount for financial support is EUR 6,000 and the maximum amount is EUR
Read more →The Global Civil Society Summit in Belgrade, which BCSDN co-hosted together with the Civil Society Partnership for Effective Development (CPDE), CIVICUS and Action for Sustainable Development on April 8th, resulted with launching of an urgent Call to Action for Member States of the United Nations to address these issues on closing civic space in the
Read more →The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held its seventh Western Balkans Civil Society Forum with the support of the European Commission and the Regional Cooperation Council. The forum brought together representatives of Western Balkans trade unions, employers and civil society organisations, EESC members, representatives of the governments of the Western Balkans, and EU and
Read more →Under the auspices of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, International Conference on Agenda 2030: Partnerships for Sustainable Development took place on the 16th of April, at the Palace of Parliament, in Bucharest. The Conference was organised by the Department of Sustainable Development within the Romanian Government and aimed at strengthening the coordination for
Read more →The 2019 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders published on April 18th noted significant declines over the past year in levels of press freedom in Serbia, Albania and Moldova while the situation was improving in North Macedonia, Croatia and Kosovo. Serbia was ranked in 90th place in the media watchdog’s world rankings, down
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