What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

Overview of Bilateral Research and Innovation Cooperation Between the Western Balkans and EU Member States

International research and innovation cooperation has become a strategic pillar for strengthening research and innovation ecosystems in the Western Balkans, the EU Member States and beyond. By connecting researchers, institutions and governments across borders, this cooperation facilitates knowledge exchange, builds institutional capacity, and fosters scientific progress that no country could achieve alone. Bilateral partnerships in

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European Anti-SLAPP Monitor Launched

The Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe has established the European Anti-SLAPP Monitor which aims at providing information on the status of transposition and implementation of European instruments on SLAPPs at national level. It will track the progress of European Union and Council of Europe member states in transposing and implementing the Anti-SLAPP Directive and the CoE Recommendation.

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New EU Rules Threaten Civil Society Funding 

New EU anti-money laundering regulations, set to take effect in July 2027, pose a significant threat to the enabling environment for civil society organizations (CSOs) by targeting a vital fundraising tool: crowdfunding. Despite being a crucial and low-cost way for CSOs and informal groups to mobilize resources, platforms like North Macedonia’s Op-Op and Slovakia’s Donio

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ECNL Learning Resource: How to Use EU Law to Enforce Your Rights

In a move to empower civil society actors, the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL) has released a new guide on how to use EU law to challenge restrictive national legislation. This resource provides a practical, step-by-step approach for organizations facing unlawful or limiting measures, clarifying legal avenues at both the national and EU levels.

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Civic Mobilization as a Response to Institutional Deficit

Across the Western Balkans, the last decade has witnessed a deepening of democratic backsliding, marked by the rise of competitive authoritarian regimes and the growing use of nationalism and religion as political tools. While the formal mechanisms for EU integration remain intact, the underlying commitment to democratic reform appears increasingly compromised. Key institutions are frequently

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Public Consultation on ”Retention of Data by Service Providers for Criminal Proceedings”

The European Commission has opened a public consultation seeking input on the “retention of data by service providers for criminal proceedings”, inviting civil society organisations and individuals to share their views on how such rules may impact fundamental rights. This move comes as part of broader plans to introduce legislative and non-legislative measures at the

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UN Experts Concerns over FATF’s New Procedure on NPOs

In June 2025, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) introduced a new procedure intended to mitigate the unintended consequences that its standards can have on non-profit organizations (NPOs). While the measure aims to ensure that rules on combating terrorist financing are applied proportionately and without suppressing legitimate civil society activity, leading UN Special Rapporteurs have

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Executive Order Reshaping Federal Grants

A new U.S. executive order is poised to fundamentally reshape federal grant funding by aligning it directly with the President’s policy priorities. The article outlines how this “structural transformation” will introduce political oversight, potentially terminate existing grants, and make peer review optional. For grantees, this creates new administrative and legal challenges, potentially leading to the

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