News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Target group: Media outlets from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Serbia, and Slovakia. Aim: Engage audiences in reporting, fostering trust and addressing underreported issues, with a focus on marginalized communities, youth, and women. Amount: Up to 4 000 EUR for individual stories, and up to 8 000 EUR
Read more →Target group: Young innovators and teams from the Western Balkans (average team age < 35) Countries: Western Balkans Short Description: The Butterfly Innovation Award offers 30 000 EUR for innovative solutions in six categories: industry, green innovation, STEM, youth, university, and women’s innovation. Each category winner will receive 5 000 EUR. Projects must demonstrate a
Read more →Target group: Early Career Researchers (PhD holders or candidates in later stages of study, within 5 years of obtaining PhD) Countries: Worldwide Short Description: The RECAS Fellowship Program invites Early Career Researchers to conduct research or develop projects at one of the Centers for Advanced Studies in the Western Balkans. Fellows receive support from universities
Read more →Target group: Non-profit initiatives by individuals, CSOs, and private companies registered in the EU Countries: EU member states Short Description: This prize rewards innovative initiatives combating harmful polarisation in European society, promoting European identity and shared values. The total prize is 50 000 EUR, shared among up to five winners. Duration: N/A Link to more
Read more →In a joint statement, BCSDN expresses strong support for Serbian civil society, calling for an end to government repression and standing with them in their fight to protect democratic values and fundamental rights. Recent protests, fueled by corruption, environmental issues, and claims of rigged elections, with those surrounding Rio Tinto’s mining plans being the most
Read more →In a joint letter, EU CSOs and journalists, including ARTICLE 19, Civil Society Europe, and the European Federation of Journalists, expressed concerns over the EU’s proposed Foreign Interference Directive, part of the Defense of Democracy Package. They warn that its vague and broad regulations could jeopardize media freedom, particularly for organizations and media outlets funded
Read more →Liberties, and other human rights organizations, call for a stronger use of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights to enhance rights protection in the EU. Despite the Charter’s comprehensive framework, its effectiveness is hindered by a lack of transparency and underutilization of available tools. This, coupled with the European Commission’s slow and cautious approach, threatens
Read more →The selection of the next European Commissioner for Enlargement is critical amid ongoing European crises. The role requires a commitment to EU democratic values, strong support for enlargement, consensus-building skills, and stakeholder trust. Ursula von der Leyen has pledged to appoint a dedicated Commissioner for this portfolio in her next term, emphasizing that enlargement, particularly
Read more →The article reflects on the decline of EU foreign policy over the years, pointing out various key moments that contributed to its weakening. It suggests that EU foreign policy has struggled to maintain unity and effectiveness, particularly after events like the Eurozone crisis, Brexit, and conflicts on its borders. The EU’s failure to address energy
Read more →An open letter from members of Serbia’s Council for Creating an Enabling Environment for Civil Society, including BCSDN member Civic Initiatives, urges Prime Minister Miloš Vučević to address recent media attacks on CSOs. The letter condemns misinformation regarding CSO funding and activities, which threatens democracy and Serbia’s EU accession process. It calls on the Prime
Read more →The Joint Submission of the BiH Civil Society Initiative, a coalition of 14 organizations working in various human rights fields, for the 4th Universal Periodic Review highlights ongoing human rights challenges in BiH from 2019 to 2024. Key issues include the operationalization of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), persistent gender inequality, and the discriminatory nature
Read more →Human rights activist Sofija Todorović has been detained multiple times by Serbian border police, most recently on her way to receive the Aachen Peace Prize in Germany. The detentions, often lasting up to four hours, are attributed to a “detailed border inspection,” but the Youth Initiative for Human Rights argues that it constitutes arbitrary deprivation
Read more →