What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

CfA: 5th WBF MOVE Mobility Granth Scheme (Deadline: 15 November)

Target group: Individual artists, cultural professionals, academics, journalists, and activists from the Western Balkans. Countries: Albania, BiH, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia Short Description: The MOVE Mobility Grant Scheme, by the Western Balkans Fund (WBF), supports regional cooperation by enabling individuals to travel within the Western Balkans. The grant aims to foster people-to-people connections, intercultural

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CfA: Inclusive Democracy Accelerator (IDA) (Deadline: 24 November)

Target group: CSOs working with governments; CSOs with existing participatory initiatives focused on marginalized groups, including women, youth, and displaced people. Countries: Latin America, Africa, Asia, or Eastern Europe Short Description: The program aims to enhance participatory and deliberative democracy for historically marginalized communities and equip CSOs and governments with tools and mentorship to engage these

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CfA: Stanford University Fisher Family Summer Fellows Program on Democracy and Development (Deadline: 16 January 2025)

Target group: Mid-career practitioners from developing and transitioning countries working in democracy, legal, economic, or governance reform. Countries: Developing democracies worldwide, with a focus on Eurasia, Africa, and transitioning states. Short Description: This Stanford University program, hosted by the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law, offers training for approximately 28-30 fellows in

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BCSDN Leads High-Level Advocacy Visit to Brussels in Response to Serbia’s Crackdown on Civic Freedoms

Following the initiative by our Serbian member, Civic Initiatives, BCSDN facilitated high-level advocacy meetings in Brussels from October 1-3 to raise awareness of the growing crackdown on civic freedoms in Serbia. A public hearing in the European Parliament, hosted by Green MEPs Gordan Bosanac and Vladimir Prebilič, featured Serbian activists and CSO representatives, including Uroš

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Civic Initiatives Updated Report: Weaponizing Influence- How Russia’s and China’s Soft Power Clashes Serbia’s Civil Society using Lithium Controversies

Civic Initiatives has released an updated version of their analysis on the repressive government’s mechanisms used in Serbia, supplementing it with new data and refreshing key sections. The report highlights how protests against lithium mining reflect broader demands for transparency, rule of law, and democratic governance. Over just ten days, these actions led to 41

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Civil Society Europe: Q&A the Proposed Third-Country Interest Representation

The document answers key questions and clarifies common misconceptions about the proposed Directive on third-country interest representation. It highlights that the Directive would have failed to detect recent instances of foreign interference, such as Qatargate and Russiagate, and suggests it could negatively impact civic space and academic freedom. The Directive is already being used to

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BCSDN Solidarity after the Devastating Floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina

On October 4, severe floods hit multiple regions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Jablanica, Tarčin, Kiseljak, Kreševo, and Konjic. The devastation left homes submerged, roads blocked, and bridges destroyed. Many families suffered human and material losses. Rescue efforts are underway, with the EU Civil Protection Mechanism activated, sending teams to the affected areas. BCSDN stands

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FRA Expert Workshop on Civic Space: BCSDN Monitoring Matrix Among the Key Tools for Assessing Civil Society Environment

From September 16 to 18, 2024, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) hosted an Expert Workshop on Civic Space Monitoring and Protection in Vienna. The workshop gathered experts, practitioners, and civil society representatives to discuss the state of civic space across Europe. Participants exchanged insights on civic space monitoring practices, terminology, and gaps

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Montenegro: A Call for Foreign Agents Law Sparks Concerns from CSOs and International Community over Human Rights and EU Integration

After the political party ‘For the Future of Montenegro’ called for a Foreign Agents Law to label NGOs receiving foreign funding as ‘foreign agents,’ a coalition of CSOs, including BCSDN member CRNVO, raised concerns about its potential to undermine human rights and hinder Montenegro’s EU integration. The coalition emphasized that Montenegro’s NGO sector is already regulated

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Liberties: Gap Analysis of the European Commission’s Rule of Law Report 2024

Liberties has published a gap analysis highlighting the shortcomings of the EU Commission’s rule of law report 2024, arguing that it functions more as a monitoring tool than an effective means of addressing democratic backsliding. While the fifth report introduced improvements, such as including enlargement countries, the analysis shows that many Member States, including Germany,

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