What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

CfA: Master Classes in Media and Journalism in North Macedonia – Fourth Generation (Deadline: 31 January 2025)

Target group: Young people aged 19 to 34, including students, young journalists, and those looking to develop digital media skills. Countries: North Macedonia Short Description: A free training program in media and journalism, covering three modules: creating web content using SEO techniques, visualizing and verifying information with generative AI tools, and producing video content for social media using

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CfA: Partners Albania NGO Exchange Program 2025 (Deadline: 5 February 2025)

Target group: Employees of new NGOs operating outside Tirana, Albania, aged 23–40, in managerial roles. Countries: Albania Short Description: The NGO Exchange Program 2025, organized by Partners Albania, aims to strengthen CSOs by enhancing their capacity, increasing access to policymaking processes, and fostering intersectoral collaboration through discussions, institutional visits, and mentorship. Duration: The program will

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CfA: Western Balkans Fellowship Programme at the Austrian Parliament 2025 (Deadline: 7 February 2025)

Target group: Civil servants working in the administrations of National Parliaments in Albania, BiH, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Countries: Western Balkans 6 Short Description: The European Fund for the Balkans (EFB), in partnership with the Austrian Parliament, offers a fellowship programme for six applicants from WB6 National Parliaments. The programme enables participants to

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Thank You for Being Part of Our 2024 Journey – Happy Holidays!

BCSDN wishes you a successful and inspiring start to 2025! As we reflect on 2024, we celebrate key achievements that strengthened our mission to protect civic space and empower civil society. These include the updated Monitoring Matrix Tool-Kit 2.0, the 2023 Regional Report on Civil Society Environment, which shed light on challenges such as rising

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BCSDN at the Third Session of the Council for Coordination and Monitoring of the Open Government Partnership Process 2024-2026 in North Macedonia

BCSDN’s Head of Policy and Advocacy, Anja Bosilkova-Antovska, participated in the third session of the Council for Coordination and Monitoring of the Open Government Partnership Process 2024-2026 in North Macedonia on December 23, discussing updates and challenges in implementing the National Action Plan for Open Government 2024-2026. Insights from the Open Government Partnership Western Balkans

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The General Affairs Council of the European Union Adopts Enlargement Conclusions, Highlights Next Steps for Candidate Countries

The EU’s General Affairs Council (GAC) reaffirmed its commitment to enlargement, emphasizing the strategic importance of EU membership for the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova. Montenegro remains the most advanced candidate, with Member States ready to begin “in due time” preparations for the accession treaty of the country. The Council urged Serbia to show strong

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WeBER III Platform Policy Brief: Law on Senior Civil Service – Is the Government Hesitant to Adopt it?

The latest WeBER policy brief on the Law on Senior Civil Service emphasizes the need for a professional, impartial, and effective public administration as a cornerstone of democracy. Merit-based recruitment, especially for senior civil servants, ensures transparent selection processes, aligns decisions with ethical standards and government priorities, and strengthens institutional integrity. By prioritizing competencies over

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Albania: Government Bans TikTok for a Year Amid Concerns Over Youth Violence and Digital Rights

Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama announced a one-year TikTok ban starting in 2025, following the fatal stabbing of a teenager allegedly linked to social media disputes. Rama accused platforms like TikTok of inciting youth violence and stressed society’s collective responsibility. TikTok denied involvement, citing no evidence of accounts linked to the incident and clarifying the

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Serbia: Spyware Abuse by Authorities Triggers CSO Appeal for EU Action

A report by Amnesty International reveals that Serbian police and intelligence services are using advanced forensic tools and NoviSpy spyware to surveil activists, journalists, and civil society members. Tools from the Israeli firm Cellebrite are being employed to unlock devices and install spyware during police interrogations or confiscations, violating Serbian law and fundamental rights. Amnesty’s

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