Short Description: Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM) is inviting women to apply for the School for Women Leaders in Just Transition, implemented under the Women-Led Coal Transitions (WOLCOT) project with support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The programme aims to strengthen women’s leadership in the just energy transition by providing training on climate change, energy transition, green economy, public advocacy, leadership and negotiation skills, complemented by mentoring and networking opportunities. Participants will also develop local initiatives, while selected graduates will have the opportunity to participate in the World Forum for Democracy in 2027. Countries:…
Author: anja
Short Description: The Council of Europe invites young people to participate in a two-day event bringing together youth, journalists, policymakers and media experts to discuss disinformation, media literacy, AI, journalism and democratic resilience. Participants will engage in a high-level conference and interactive workshops focused on strengthening information integrity, critical thinking and freedom of expression. Countries: Young people (18–30) residing in one of the 46 Council of Europe member States. Location: Strasbourg, France. Duration: 2 days (9–10 November). Deadline for Applications: 1 September 2026. Link to more information (Council of Europe)
A coalition of Serbian CSOs, including BCSDN member Civic Initiatives has called for the urgent establishment of an independent UN fact-finding mission to investigate the alleged use of an acoustic device during the 15 March 2025 protest in Belgrade. The organisations express serious concern that the investigation has shifted away from determining responsibility for the incident towards examining students, victims, experts and civil society actors who documented the case and provided legal assistance. They argue that the case, initially assigned to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime, was transferred without explanation and has since been handled ineffectively. The groups…
The European Union is developing new safeguard mechanisms aimed at ensuring that future member states continue to uphold democratic standards, the rule of law, and EU commitments after accession. Speaking to POLITICO, the European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos confirmed that the European Commission is exploring measures such as transitional periods and post-accession safeguards that could be activated if a new member state backslides on reforms or obstructs EU decision-making. According to Kos, the initiative builds on lessons learned from previous enlargements and seeks to strengthen the credibility of the accession process by ensuring that compliance with EU values extends…
Civil Society Europe has launched preparations for the Civil Society State of the Union 2027, inviting EU-level CSOs to contribute to a collective assessment of democracy, civic participation and key societal challenges across the European Union. Building on previous editions published in 2023 and 2025, the report aims to complement the European Commission President’s annual State of the Union address by presenting civil society’s perspectives, priorities and recommendations for a more democratic and socially just Europe. Contributions will be developed through thematic sub-working groups, coordinated under Civil Society Europe’s Working Group on Democracy and Citizens’ Participation, which follows up on…
The “Flamingo Revolution” has become one of Albania’s most prominent environmental civic movements, driven by concerns over legislative changes that weaken protections for protected areas and enable large-scale tourism and infrastructure developments. Led by environmental organisations and supported by citizens nationwide, the campaign has focused on safeguarding the Vjosa-Narta Protected Area, one of the Mediterranean’s most important habitats for flamingos and migratory birds. The movement has brought environmental protection, transparency, public participation and government accountability to the centre of public debate. Reflecting these concerns, the European Parliament, in its resolution on the 2025 European Commission Report on Albania, called on…
Ahead of the publication of the European Commission’s 2026 Rule of Law Report, 37 civil society, human rights, journalism, and media organisations have called for a more robust and action-oriented approach to protecting the rule of law across the EU and candidate countries. They argue that the annual report has become a routine monitoring exercise with insufficient follow-up, despite growing democratic backsliding and restrictions on civic space. The organisations urge the Commission to strengthen links between the Report and existing rule of law enforcement tools, expand its assessment of civic space, ensure implementation of key EU legislation on media freedom…
Eurothink – Centre for European Strategies has published the 2026 edition of its Eurobarometer survey, examining citizens’ perceptions of democracy, EU integration, foreign policy, public institutions and information sources in North Macedonia. The findings show a moderate recovery in support for EU membership, with 58% of respondents viewing accession as beneficial and 66% considering the EU the country’s best long-term development option. While optimism about eventual membership has increased since 2023, six in ten respondents still perceive the EU’s approach as unfair, condescending or overly conditional. The survey also records growing public interest in EU-related issues and improving perceptions of…
During the second meeting of the Monitoring Committee for the Reform and Growth Facility (RGF), stakeholders reviewed progress in implementing North Macedonia’s Reform Agenda and discussed ways to strengthen oversight of the reform process. Contributing to the discussion, the European Policy Institute (EPI) highlighted the importance of ensuring structured, transparent, and meaningful participation of CSOs in the Committee’s work. Drawing on its monitoring experience, EPI stressed that CSOs can provide valuable evidence, policy expertise, and field-based knowledge to improve reform implementation and ensure tangible results for citizens. It also called for formal CSO representation in the Monitoring Committee, transparent selection…
The SafeJournalists Network has expressed concern over the targeting of researcher Getoarbe Mulliqi and journalist and academic Dinko Gruhonjić following the publication of their analysis on media reporting about dealing with the past in the Western Balkans. According to the Network, the authors were subjected to a smear campaign initiated by a Serbian tabloid, using derogatory and ethnically charged language, which was reinforced by a statement from Serbia’s Ministry of Information and Telecommunications questioning their credibility. SafeJournalists warns that the combination of hostile media narratives and official rhetoric creates an intimidating environment for journalists, researchers and media freedom advocates. It…