News and updates from BCSDN and the region
On behalf of the European Commission, and DG NEAR, the EU TACSO 3 project invites CSOs from Western Balkans and Türkiye to take part in the second assessment against the DG NEAR Guidelines for EU Support to Civil Society in the Western Balkans and Türkiye 2021-2027. This assessment aims to assess the situation against the
Read more →Catalyst Balkans and BCSDN present the third edition of “Mapping Donors in the Western Balkans”. The report provides valuable insights into the current donor landscape, focusing on bilateral, multilateral, and private foundations, and corporate donors supporting civil society. Key questions addressed include the donors’ activity levels, areas of focus, and interactions with funded organizations. The research
Read more →The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is inviting representatives from employers’ organizations, trade unions, and CSOs in EU candidate countries to apply for the role of “enlargement candidate members” (ECMs). This initiative allows for the active involvement of civil society from candidate countries in the EESC’s work as external participants. The ECMs will contribute
Read more →In early 2023, the Georgian Parliament introduced two draft laws on foreign funding for civil society and media, which drew criticism for violating international standards. ECNL and ICNL conducted analyses of the two draft laws, presenting how they would violate international standards and harm the Georgian people Despite strong political support, mass protests pressure from CSOs,
Read more →The Investigative Journalism for Europe (IJ4EU) fund presents its fifth edition, offering 2 million EUR in grants for cross-border investigations across Europe. Open to journalists across greater number of countries than before, the program includes grants of up to 50,000 EUR, along with training, mentoring, legal help, and new collaboration tools. IJ4EU, led by the
Read more →DLA Piper, ECNL, and PILnet present the Global Nonprofits Guide, a free tool facilitating the navigation of nonprofit laws worldwide. This resource assists in establishing nonprofits, covering diverse legal aspects, from registration and governance structures to compliance with employment and tax regulations. The guide includes information on reporting requirements, funding rules, and the process of
Read more →In response to civic space threats in Republika Srpska, BiH, including amendments re-criminalizing defamation and the adoption of the draft ‘foreign agents’ law,’ BCSDN conducted the online discussion ‘Defending Civic Space in the Balkans’ on November 9. The event put focus on several regional advocacy efforts aimed at drawing regional and international attention to the
Read more →Catalyst Balkans and BCSDN present the third edition of “Mapping Donors in the Western Balkans”. The report provides valuable insights into the current donor landscape, focusing on bilateral, multilateral, and private foundations, and corporate donors supporting civil society. Key questions addressed include the donors’ activity levels, areas of focus, and interactions with funded organizations. The
Read more →The Global Partnership conducts a country-led monitoring exercise to enhance the effectiveness of development cooperation, tracking progress based on four principles. This monitoring is crucial for meeting SDG targets 17.15, 17.16, and 5. c. The CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE) planned activities, including training on civil society engagement, launching a report summarizing evidence and
Read more →During the December plenary, EESC discussed the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, emphasizing the importance of impact assessments as the foundation of this EU strategic autonomy effort. They proposed an increased role for EESC in decision-making regarding Global Gateway development projects. This initiative, introduced a decade after China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), could contribute to
Read more →The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders discusses the use of EU visas as a protective measure for human rights defenders (HRDs), individuals working to promote and protect human rights worldwide. The paper outlines scenarios where HRDs could benefit from easier access to EU visas. These situations include immediate risks, anticipated risks, addressing burnout
Read more →Despite widespread concerns expressed by the European Civic Forum and European CSOs in consultations, meetings, and letters, the European Commission has decided to press ahead with a foreign funding directive as part of its Defence of Democracy package. BCSDN stands united against the adoption of the Foreign Agent Registration Law. Civil society is the backbone
Read more →