News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Ahead of the 2024 EU elections, a broad coalition of CSOs led by Civil Society Europe and Social Platform have launched a campaign for better civic space and civil dialogue all over Europe. The Civil Society for EU campaign published its manifesto, outlining its key demands for a Civil Society Strategy and a Civil Dialogue
Read more →The assessment conducted by the National Resource Center for Civil Society in Albania aims to identify the current needs of organizations for capacity building in the field of organizational management, financial sustainability, participation in policy-making, and the European integration process. The identified needs will serve as a basis for the development of future capacity-building programs
Read more →The Freedom House Nations in Transit 2023 report reveals that democratic institutions in the Western Balkans continued to stagnate in 2022. The slight improvements in Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia were balanced by declines in Montenegro and BiH, while Serbia’s score remained unchanged. The EU has granted BiH candidate status while Kosovo has submitted their
Read more →EC has released its fourth annual Rule of Law Report, assessing the rule of law situation in each EU Member State. The report focuses on national justice systems, anti-corruption frameworks, media pluralism, and institutional checks and balances. While some Member States still face Rule of Law concerns, the report has prompted positive changes and reforms.
Read more →Liberties published a new handbook, “Relying on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights for Human Rights Litigation” to support human rights defenders in their efforts to protect freedoms by providing practical advice on using the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and EU law in litigation. The handbook complements Liberties Charter litigation training program, part of
Read more →In the face of nationalistic tendencies that threaten civic space in Serbia, Sofija Todorovic from Youth Initiative for Human Rights in an op-ed, underscores the importance of truth, peace, anti-fascism, solidarity, and democracy as fundamental steps to a future free from conflicts and wars. Through YIHR’s proactive response, these challenges are being addressed head-on, fostering
Read more →OECD released the “Governance at a Glance Report 2023” which highlights the impact of recent crises on global economic resilience. Despite governments’ prompt response to challenges, efforts to reinforce trust and democratic resilience must be intensified due to environmental, demographic, fiscal, and technological obstacles. Key report’s findings include the undermining of trust in public institutions,
Read more →The Launch Event for the 2023 Tirana Civil Society Forum acknowledged the vital role of CSOs in bringing the region closer to the EU. The Forum is being held as part of the Annual Summit of the Berlin Process, hosted by the Government of Albania, the current holder of the Berlin Process Presidency. Seven working
Read more →The PAR Monitor report for North Macedonia 2021/2022 has been published by the European Policy Institute (EPI). The report is a compilation of findings from the Western Balkans in the six areas of PAR, which were defined by the Principles of Public Administration, known as SIGMA Principles. The PAR Monitor offers a comprehensive package of
Read more →The analysis explores the best practices from parliaments in the areas of transparency, integrity, accountability and anti-corruption, and reflects how these approaches are applicable for the European Parliament (EP). Findings confirm the need for the establishment of an independent EU ethics body, granted investigative and enforcement powers with full transparency of enquiries, decisions and/or proposals
Read more →One year after the closing event of the Conference on the Future of Europe, there was little follow-up on citizens’ recommendations. While EPC recognizes the European Commission’s new generation’ of EU Citizens’ Panels, uncertainty remains how these deliberative exercises can connect citizens to the wider EU policymaking. Despite being a novel step in upholding the
Read more →The Global Gender Gap Index presents the 17th edition of the annual benchmarking of the current state and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions (Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment). The analysis yields key findings on the index results in 2023, trend analysis towards parity, and contextual
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