News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The European Policy Centre (EPC) has published a paper on the future of the EU’s Cohesion Policy. The document analyzes the policy’s challenges, including the rise of populism and nationalism, the impact of Brexit, and the need to address new challenges such as climate change and digitalization. It argues that Cohesion Policy should be modernized
Read more →The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) has published a report on how to engage with authoritarian states. The report suggests that traditional approaches to promoting democracy and human rights have proven ineffective in countries where authoritarian regimes are in power. It recommends new approaches focusing on strengthening civil society, promoting human rights, and supporting democratic
Read more →The article published on the EU Observer discusses the ongoing democratic backsliding in Hungary and Poland, and how the EU should respond to this situation, arguing that the Union must take a more proactive approach to defend democratic values within its member states, instead of simply resorting to sanctions or financial penalties. It suggests that
Read more →The article titled “When human rights go backwards: lessons for the 21st century” discusses how, despite progress in the 20th century, human rights have recently faced setbacks around the world. It argues that these regressions are often a result of the rise of authoritarianism and the disregard for human rights principles. The article also highlights
Read more →The European Democracy Support Annual Review 2022, showcases how countries responded to protecting and supporting democracy in this new context. Providing an overview of the ways in which the new global context changed European democracy support policies and how they evolved both at the EU and national levels, the report focuses on the specific aspects
Read more →With sadness and sympathy, we at the Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) extend our deepest condolences to those affected by the devastating earthquake that recently shook Turkey and Syria. Our hearts are with those who have lost their lives or loved ones and those whose homes were taken away in the instant tragedy. Following
Read more →At the beginning of February, European Parliament Rapporteurs for Kosovo and Serbia, Viola von Cramon and Vladimir Bilčik, presented a draft report on Kosovo to EP Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET). The draft document gives “full support to the EU’s special representative for dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo; invites Kosovo and Serbia to engage in
Read more →BCSDN member Partners Albania for Change and Development within their project “WB&T for EmploYouth” implemented in partnership with “Ana I Vlade Divac” Foundation in Serbia, Youth Alliance in North Macedonia, “Prima” association in Montenegro, and “Community Volunteers Foundation” in Turkey, since 2016, develops the “Monitoring Report on Political, Social and Economic Participation of Youth” in
Read more →The fifth public call for Constitutional Court judges announced on 25 December 2022 might be the last opportunity to overcome the constitutional crisis without harsh consequences on Montenegro’s EU accession process, as Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon conveyed the EU message that appointing judges to the vacant spots by the end of January is a
Read more →Transparency International`s annual rating of the global perception of corruption has been published on 31 of January, and the results are discouraging. The 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) shows that most countries are failing to stop corruption. Although the global average remains unchanged for over a decade, over two-thirds of countries score below 50, while
Read more →The Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (GPEDC) organized the 2022 Effective Development Co-operation Summit (or HLM3) last December 12-14, 2022 in Geneva, gathering hundreds of ministers, policymakers, civil society and, private sector representatives, and other development actors to address development challenges that plague the world today. The event concluded with the release of the
Read more →BCSDN’s member Partners Albania for Change and Development has published the Report of Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment Methodology for the NPO Sector in Albania. The report is closely aligned with FATF requirements and guidance. It is prepared through a collaborative approach involving NPOs, state and law enforcement institutions, the financial sector, and religious communities, recognizing
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