What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

BCSDN MM Sarajevo Revision Workshop: Addressing Monitoring and Advocacy Challenges in WBT

From October 30th to November 1st, BCSDN members’ representatives gathered for a productive workshop in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, addressing crucial developments in the civil society enabling environment in Western Balkans and Turkey. The workshop focused on revising the BCSDN Monitoring Matrix Toolkit, with discussions spanning key areas, standards, and indicators. The sessions explored critical

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FARA’s Double Life Abroad

Globally, governments are increasingly limiting civil society and suppressing dissent. A prevalent strategy employed by them involves introducing laws specifically aimed at CSOs receiving international funding. This brief outlines instances where the U.S. Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) has been cited to support such legislation. Although FARA has historically been narrowly applied within the United

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BCSDN at the 9th Western Balkans Civil Society Forum in Thessaloniki

On 19-20 October 2023, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) organized the 9th Western Balkans Civil Society Forum in Thessaloniki. Discussing the impact of geopolitical shifts on the WB and the EU’s enlargement policy, obstacles faced by the region in their accession path, the role of civil society, and ways to monitor civil society

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Civil Society Still Under Threat but Awareness is Growing

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights FRA’s ‘Civic Space Update 2023 highlights civil society challenges. Examples include strategic lawsuits (SLAPPs) and actions against those involved in migrant search and rescue at sea or against those representing vulnerable groups. It also addresses civil society financing. It also examines recent changes to the challenges holding back civil

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European Philanthropy Coalition for Climate – Decoding COP28: What’s On the Agenda and Why Does it Matter to Philanthropy?

For the last three decades, the climate COPs have represented a milestone in the global climate agenda, and with the effects of climate change becoming more and more visible, international, and cross-sectoral collaboration on climate is increasingly critical. Still, for many philanthropy practitioners, the COPs feel opaque, and their significance for their own work is

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SAVE THE DATE: BCSDN Event: United for Free Civic Space (1 November, Sarajevo/Zoom)

In light of significant threats to the civic space in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the reintroduced criminalization of defamation and the draft “foreign agents’ law”, BCSDN and CPCD are organizing a hybrid event in Sarajevo. The gathering will bring together affected CSOs and relevant stakeholders for a comprehensive discussion on identifying potential threats and formulating

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BCSDN Policy Paper: AML/CFT Regulations and Implications on CSOs in the Western Balkans and Türkiye

BCSDN published a Policy Brief on AML/CFT Regulations in the Western Balkans and Turkey, providing a comparative analysis of regional AML/CTF regulations and their implications on the CSO sector. The AML/CFT regulations in the WBT have been reflected in many areas: the reporting requirements by the state, the registration of CSOs and related administration requirements,

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Defending Democracy with Clarity

ECNL and The Good Lobby offered valuable feedback on the European Commission’s Defense of Democracy package, emphasizing the need for a precise and narrow definition of “interest representation.” They highlighted the importance of adopting risk-based regulatory initiatives that carefully assess the impact on fundamental rights such as freedom of association, expression, and participation. The measures

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EU Media Law Enters Home Stretch but Spyware Disinformation Concerns Persist

The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), proposed by the European Commission in September 2022, is the first EU-level attempt to establish a binding common framework for media services. It introduces new rules on state advertising, transparency of ownership, audience measurement, and protection of journalistic sources and communications, as well as safeguards for public service media,

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