Short Description: The Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, in cooperation with the National Youth Council of Macedonia (NYCM) and the OSCE Mission to Skopje, invites nominations for the 2026 Youth Participation Award. The award recognises outstanding youth-led initiatives that demonstrate active participation, social impact, and sustainable contributions to community development. Awards will be presented in three categories: young individuals (15–29) under the theme Youth, Peace and Security, informal youth groups, and youth organisations. Target Group: Young people (15–29), informal youth groups, youth organisations, organisations for young people, and umbrella youth organisations. Nominations may be submitted by individuals, organisations,…
Author: anja
Short Description: Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) invites applications for its Summer School of Investigative Reporting, taking place from 17–23 August in Ohrid, North Macedonia. The intensive programme combines practical training in investigative journalism, cross-border reporting, OSINT, data journalism, digital verification, and security, while providing participants with mentorship from leading international journalists and editors to develop their own investigative story ideas. Target Group: Early and mid-career journalists from the Western Balkans and Southeast Europe, particularly those working in challenging or under-resourced media environments. Countries: Southeast Europe. Location: Ohrid, North Macedonia. Duration: 17–23 August. Deadline for Applications: 10 July. Link to…
Short Description: The Civil Society Resource Centre has launched a mentorship programme to strengthen the organisational capacities and long-term sustainability of CSOs in North Macedonia. Selected organisations will receive tailored support from experienced mentors in areas such as good governance, strategic planning, project and financial management, advocacy, communications, volunteer management, digital transformation, fundraising diversification, Erasmus+, and organisational development. Target Group: CSOs registered under the Law on Associations and Foundations in North Macedonia operating at local, regional, or national level. Countries: North Macedonia. Location: North Macedonia (mentorship programme). Duration: Tailored mentorship process (duration determined according to the organisation’s needs). Deadline for…
Short Description: A fully funded, non-degree professional fellowship in the United States for mid-career professionals. The programme combines academic enrichment, leadership development and a six-week professional affiliation with U.S. institutions to strengthen leadership, foster international collaboration and address global development challenges. Target Group: Mid-career professionals with a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), at least five years of full-time professional experience, demonstrated leadership potential, commitment to public service and strong English language proficiency. Countries: Eligible countries worldwide through U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions, including the Western Balkans. Location: United States. Duration: 10 months (2027/2028 academic year). Deadline for Applications: Varies by country…
BCSDN has welcomed Güneş Engin Karamancı to its Board, further strengthening the network’s regional perspective and expertise in civic space, democracy, and civil society development. As Secretary General of TÜSEV, Enlargement Candidate Member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), and a member of the European Civic Forum (ECF), Güneş brings extensive experience in civil society monitoring, legal frameworks, and regional advocacy. BCSDN also expresses its sincere appreciation to Rana Kotan, former Secretary General of TÜSEV and outgoing Board Member, for her dedicated service and valuable contribution to advancing regional cooperation and protecting civic space across the Western Balkans…
Thousands of citizens, environmental organisations, and local activists have protested against planned tourism developments in Albania’s Vjosa–Narta protected area, citing concerns over potential impacts on one of the country’s most important coastal ecosystems and habitats for migratory birds, flamingos, sea turtles, and other protected species. More than 98,000 people have signed a public petition calling for the protection of the area and stricter adherence to environmental standards. In parallel, a coalition of CSOs has issued a public letter to the Albanian Parliament, state institutions, and international partners, calling for a review of policies affecting protected areas, greater transparency, public participation…
The European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) adopted Rapporteur for Serbia Tonino Picula’s report on Serbia, with 51 votes in favor, 14 against, and 10 abstentions. The final report is considerably stricter than the initial draft, assessing Serbia as having made limited or no progress in democratic governance, the rule of law, media freedom, and electoral conditions. It raises acute concerns over the repression of protesters, journalists, and activists — including police violence, surveillance, spyware, and facial recognition misuse — and calls on the European Commission to adjust financial support if Serbia continues to backslide. The report also demands…
EESC convened the EU–Western Balkans Civil Society High-Level Conference in Vienna on 29 May under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Bringing together civil society representatives, policymakers, social partners, EU institutions, and stakeholders from the Western Balkans and EU Member States, the event focused on how to strengthen trust and partnership as essential pillars of a credible and inclusive enlargement process. Discussions explored the role of civil society in advancing EU enlargement, strengthening democratic resilience, countering disinformation, and improving communication on enlargement, while also addressing the contribution of civil society to the EU…
A non-paper signed by Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg proposes a general template for future accession treaties to ensure that forthcoming EU enlargements strengthen rather than strain the Union. The document calls for enhanced safeguards in the rule of law, including a binding non-regression clause and an extended safeguard clause covering democratic principles and media freedom — as well as new protections against foreign interference and temporary limitations on voting rights for new Member States in specific areas requiring unanimity. The paper emphasizes that public and political support for enlargement depends on credible guarantees, making these discussions directly…
BiEPAG published an analysis of the 2026 EU–Western Balkans Summit, examining the implications of the new Merz–Macron proposal on gradual integration and the future of EU enlargement. The analysis explores opportunities for deeper integration of candidate countries into EU policies and the Single Market before full membership, while also warning against rewarding limited reforms and weakening the credibility of the merit-based accession process. It highlights the importance of maintaining rule of law, democratic standards, and meaningful reforms as central conditions for enlargement. CSOs may find the analysis useful for understanding emerging debates on the future architecture of EU enlargement and…