News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Growing concerns are emerging over the future of EU support for civil society after reports revealed that several established pro-European think tanks and advocacy organisations have lost operating grants under the European Commission’s CERV programme. Organisations such as the European Policy Centre, the Jacques Delors Institute, and the Robert Schuman Foundation are among those affected,
Read more →Slovenia has renewed its partnership with Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein under the EEA and Norway Grants framework for 2021–2028, securing €50 million to support democratic resilience, social inclusion, public health, and local development. Civil society remains a key priority within the new funding period, with the EEA Civil Society Fund continuing to support grassroots initiatives,
Read more →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
Read more →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
Read more →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
Read more →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
Read more →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
Read more →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
Read more →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
Read more →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
Read more →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
Read more →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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