What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

Commission Reportedly Withholds Serbia’s Growth Plan Funding Over Judicial Reform Concerns 

The European Commission is reportedly withholding disbursement of Serbia’s Growth Plan funding following concerns over recently adopted judicial laws that raised questions regarding judicial independence and alignment with EU rule of law standards. The reported decision reflects the increasingly conditional nature of EU financial support under the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, where access to funding is tied

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Debate Grows Over the Future Direction of the EU’s Global Europe Instrument 

A new analysis by the Center for Global Development (CGD) examines growing tensions surrounding the EU’s proposed redesign of the Global Europe Instrument, the Union’s main financing tool for external action and development cooperation. While welcoming the instrument’s increased flexibility and stronger focus on infrastructure, investment, and geopolitical realities, the analysis warns that the proposal

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Peace Direct: Funding Civil Society Freedom

A recent report by Peace Direct examines how funding approaches can better support civil society, particularly in the context of declining official development assistance and increasing pressure on local actors. Based on research and consultations with funders and grantee partners, the report identifies flexible funding as a key approach, highlighting that core or unrestricted funding

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Aid at a Turning Point: ODA Drops to Pre-2030 Levels

Official development assistance (ODA) fell to USD 174.3 billion in 2025—a sharp 23.1% drop and the largest annual decline on record, reversing gains made since the start of the 2030 Agenda. The contraction was driven largely by cuts from major donors, with the United States alone accounting for most of the decrease. Both bilateral and

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Bulgaria International Fundraising Conference Brings Civil Society to Sofia (18 June)

The second edition of the International Fundraising Conference will take place on 18 June 2026 in Sofia, bringing together civil society leaders, fundraising professionals, and corporate representatives from across Europe. Organised by the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law (BCNL) and initiated by Fundraising Club Bulgaria, the event focuses on “Fundraising in Times of Courage,” highlighting

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Philea New Report on Journalism and Media Funding in Europe

Philea, through the Journalism Funders Forum, has released a new report examining how philanthropic organisations are funding journalism and media in Europe. The study highlights that while the field is widely recognised as essential for democracy, accountability, and countering misinformation, it receives only a small portion of philanthropic budgets. Despite this, there is a slow

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Blended Finance and the illusion of Development: Lessons from the EFSD+ for the next EU Budget

The proposed Global Europe Instrument (GEI) for the EU’s 2028–2034 budget signals a major shift toward investment-driven external action, moving away from traditional development approaches. Drawing on lessons from the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), experts warn that blending and guarantee-based tools often fail to deliver meaningful results, particularly for the most vulnerable

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Aligning Philanthropy to Protect Democracy and Civic Space

A recent commentary highlights the growing role of philanthropy in protecting democracy and civic space amid increasing pressure on CSOs and non-profit actors. Philanthropic institutions have faced political accusations and attempts to restrict support for human rights, democracy, and civic initiatives. Despite these pressures, philanthropy has developed strategies to strengthen sector resilience, including increased and

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Catalysing Change Through Hyper‑Local Crisis Response

The Resilio Fund is promoting a new model of crisis response that places local communities at the centre of humanitarian action. The initiative argues that international aid systems can sometimes be slow, inefficient, and risk creating long-term dependency, while failing to strengthen community resilience. By prioritising grassroots participation, the fund aims to position local populations

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Understanding Philanthropy Laws Across Europe: Philea’s Comparative Analysis

Philea analyses the legal and policy environment shaping philanthropy across Europe through coordinated research at national, EU, and global levels. Working with national experts, it tracks developments affecting how foundations and charitable organisations operate. A key output is the study Comparative Highlights of Foundation Laws, offering a comparative overview of legal and fiscal frameworks for

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New Study Maps Philanthropic Giving Across Europe

The European Research Network on Philanthropy (ERNOP) has announced the forthcoming release of Philanthropy in Europe, a comprehensive, cross-national mapping of philanthropic giving across 20 European countries. The study provides the most extensive comparative overview of philanthropy currently available in Europe, revealing that while giving plays a substantial and diverse role in societies, there are

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Moving Beyond the “Tick-Box”: New Standards for Safer Philanthropy

A landmark 2025 study, “Safeguarding in Philanthropy: Safer Grant-Making for Greater Impact,” by Accountable Now and the Funder Safeguarding Collaborative, reveals that while global grant-makers are increasingly prioritizing safety, significant gaps remain between policy and practice. Drawing on insights from 87 funders and nearly 300 grantees, the report warns that many organizations still treat safeguarding

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