News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Recently published policy brief, authored by multiple experts in the field, explores the role of the enlargement process in the democratization of the Western Balkans 6 (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia). The report identifies eight flaws in the EU’s strategies, policies, and implementation that are believed to contribute to stabilitocracy
Read more →The Black Sea NGO Forum announces new efforts to be put into the capacity building of the regional cooperation area through their new project „Building CSO Capacity for Regional Cooperation within the Black Sea Region” which is implemented by the Romanian NGDO Platform – FOND. As the article states, the main goal is to increase
Read more →Target group: Youth CSOs Countries: International Short description: In the framework of the campaign, local, national, and international activities will take place allowing young people, youth workers, youth organizations, and youth policy institutions to shape the themes, the content, and the outcomes of the campaign in the spirit of participatory democracy. Link to more information
Read more →Podcast Series: Explaining Western Balkans Episode: Cold December in Belgrade Interlocutor: Tara Petrovic – Researcher at Civic Initiatives BCSDN is introducing its new podcast series…
Read more →The European Commission has published the executive decision on the financing of the multi-country multiannual action plan on an EU Civil Society Facility and Media Programme in favor of the Western Balkans and Turkey for 2021-2023. The decision on the Civil Society Facility and Media Programme for the Western Balkans and Turkey consists of a
Read more →The report titled “Democracy and Emergencies: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic for democratic resilience” presents a series of 20 recommendations, directed at government leaders, public institutions, and civil society in all democratic countries. It puts forward concrete, feasible suggestions to strengthen democracies’ ability to keep their democratic institutions working in emergencies; to protect fundamental rights
Read more →Transparency International published the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for 2021 on January 25, ranking and scoring the state of the countries regarding the state of corruption and (un)democratic practices. According to this year’s ranking, Montego holds 46th place making it one of the 3 top-ranked countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Meanwhile, Turkey and
Read more →On 25 January OECD has reached a decision to open accession discussion with six candidates to OECD Membership – Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Peru, and Romania. Ahead of the candidate countries lays the process of creating roadmaps for the detailed assessment process will now be prepared provided those countries confirm their adherence to the values,
Read more →Complementing their ongoing tracking of civic space on the CIVICUS Monitor the CIVICUS Alliance has launched the CIVICUS Lens – new analysis and commentary initiative that highlights stories of civic action and civil society breakthroughs. Baring in mind CIVICUS`s scope of research – contemporary political, economic and social trends and their impact on civil society,
Read more →Acknowledging the limited space for contribution to the DG NEAR/TACSO consultations on the first regional call of the IPA CSF and Media Programme 2021-2023, both in terms of time available and structure of the survey itself, BCSDN has prepared a statement with more detailed feedback, while expressing serious concerns over the effectiveness and credibility of
Read more →The EU has been unsuccessful in its efforts to promote rule-of-law reforms in the Western Balkans, the EU’s auditors said in their latest report. The bloc spent about €700 million between 2014 and 2020 to help WB countries make headway on reforms in areas such as independence of the judiciary and fundamental freedoms, but the
Read more →This 32nd annual World Report summarizes human rights conditions in over 100 countries and territories worldwide in 2021. Countries covered from this region are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia and Turkey. The report notes that there was little visible progress on human rights BiH, as public officials stirred xenophobia, failed to tackle discrimination, and put
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