What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

CfA: Defeating the Far Right Online – Free 2-Hour Training for Small Groups (Date: 15-16 October 2025)

Short Description: Join this 2-hour training designed for staff and activists from NGOs, unions, electoral campaigns, and grassroots movements. Learn practical strategies to counter the Far Right’s online influence, including their top 15 messaging and digital tactics, and discover research-backed approaches to strengthen your movement. Target Group: Staff and activists with non-profits, NGOs, unions, and

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Accountability as Political Practice for Coalitions and Social Movements – Webinar

On 23 September 2025 at 14:00 CEST, the Vuka! Coalition, together with Accountable Now and Accountability Lab, will host a session titled “Accountability as Political Practice: Strengthening Legitimacy from Within”. The discussion will explore what meaningful accountability looks like beyond compliance and donor requirements, how organisations can navigate internal tensions and power dynamics while staying true

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Regional Conference “Civil Society in a Changing Western Balkans” – 1 October 2025, Tirana

We are pleased to announce that on 1 October 2025 in Tirana (Albania), BCSDN, together with Partners Albania, will host the regional conference “Resilient Voices: Civil Society in a Changing Western Balkans.” This high-level event will bring together civil society actors, EU institutions, national governments, and donors to explore the shifting civic landscape in the

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European Anti-SLAPP Monitor Launched

The Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe has established the European Anti-SLAPP Monitor which aims at providing information on the status of transposition and implementation of European instruments on SLAPPs at national level. It will track the progress of European Union and Council of Europe member states in transposing and implementing the Anti-SLAPP Directive and the CoE Recommendation.

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2025 Global State of Democracy Report Published

The newly released Global State of Democracy (GSoD) Report 2025 paints a sobering picture of the current global climate of radical uncertainty, with political turbulence in the United States highlighting wider patterns of democratic fragility and declining trust in multilateralism. The data show that in 2024, more than half of all countries assessed (94, or

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Civil Society Responds to EU State of the Union

Following European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s annual State of the Union speech, Civil Society Europe and over 35 other organizations released their own report. While they welcomed commitments on the rule of law and media resilience, they are calling for bolder action, including the creation of a European Electoral Authority and a formal

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New EU Rules Threaten Civil Society Funding 

New EU anti-money laundering regulations, set to take effect in July 2027, pose a significant threat to the enabling environment for civil society organizations (CSOs) by targeting a vital fundraising tool: crowdfunding. Despite being a crucial and low-cost way for CSOs and informal groups to mobilize resources, platforms like North Macedonia’s Op-Op and Slovakia’s Donio

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ECNL Learning Resource: How to Use EU Law to Enforce Your Rights

In a move to empower civil society actors, the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL) has released a new guide on how to use EU law to challenge restrictive national legislation. This resource provides a practical, step-by-step approach for organizations facing unlawful or limiting measures, clarifying legal avenues at both the national and EU levels.

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New Research Holds Institutions to Account 

A new project led by ERA LGBTI with support from the EU is demonstrating CSO accountability in action by producing evidence-based policy briefs to promote the protection of LBQ women in the Western Balkans. Based on extensive research, legal analysis, and community focus groups in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Serbia, these briefs serve

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Media Freedom Under Threat in Serbia

A recently published recording has revealed alleged backroom deals to silence independent media in Serbia, intensifying concerns over the country’s media freedom. The private conversation, exposed by OCCRP and KRIK, suggests political pressure to remove Aleksandra Subotić, the executive director of United Media, which owns critical broadcasters N1 and Nova S. This incident follows a

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