News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The European Parliament and the Council agreed on the 14 billion EUR budget for the new Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) for the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework period. According to the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET), the upgraded pre-accession instrument strengthens conditionality regarding democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, envisaging the
Read more →The report provides a general overview of human rights and democracy. It marks the first phase of implementing the new EU Action Plan, presenting insight into EU action in 2020. It further monitors the implementation of the new EU Action Plan by presenting the progress achieved. The report focuses on how the COVID-19 pandemic has
Read more →On 10 June 2021, BCSDN held the extended session of the 15th Annual Council Meeting. Representatives of BCSDN members joined together virtually to discuss the civil society situation in their countries, the COVID-19 impact, challenges, and practices for civil society, and the current issues in their organizations. The event contributed to learning from each other
Read more →On 14 June 2021, BCSDN Executive Director Ms. Biljana Spasovska participated in the “Strengthening the Rule of Law in the Western Balkans: Old tools for new rules?” event organized by the Institute for Democracy “Societas Civilis” (IDSCS), the Politikon Network and the Center for Contemporary Politics. The conference reflected the ongoing rule of law reform
Read more →On 10 June 2021, during the Plenary Debate on the Charter of Fundamental Rights & EU Democracy with European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) asked for CSOs and citizens to be more actively involved in standing up for democracy and the rule of law in the EU. The debate aimed to extend
Read more →On 7 June 2021, the Civil Society Convention on the Future of Europe organized an event for the start of the Conference. The discussion brought representatives of the European Commission and the Parliament members who, together with the Convention participants, among which BCSDN EO representatives, reflected on the scope of civil society participation in the
Read more →The eighth annual Opinion Poll prepared by the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) examines public perceptions of citizens’ trust in institutions, transparency and accountability, corruption, citizens’ engagement in policy and decision-making, satisfaction with public service delivery enforcement of non-discriminatory laws, and policies. The publication presents a critical perspective to the monitoring framework of major
Read more →On 1-2 June 2021, the Civil Society & Think Tank Forum of the 2021 Berlin Process, initiated by the German government, discussed the scope and the success of the Berlin Process. The forum brought prominent participants and high-level officers, which focused on specific issues, including WB civil society ownership of the process; civil society as
Read more →Identifying the accomplishments and areas of concern, FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2021 reflects on significant developments in the field in 2020. The main chapter of the report focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 on fundamental rights, while the other chapters focus on: the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights; equality and non-discrimination; racism, xenophobia, and
Read more →The OECD DAC Civil Society Days 2021 (27 May – 4 June) highlighted the need to increase individual and collective donor efforts to enable civil society’s responses to crises and development needs. It looked for enhanced partnerships to promote sustainable development by respecting, protecting, and promoting civic space; supporting and engaging with civil society; encouraging
Read more →On 27 May 2021, BCSDN took part in the first meeting of one of the five working groups as per the thematic clusters of the CSO Convention on the Future of Europe, coordinated by Civil Society Europe. Over 75 European networks and platforms have come together to scrutinize the democratic functioning on the Conference of
Read more →On 1- 2 June 2021, the Aspen Institute Germany, together with the Southeast Europe Association, organizes the online Western Balkans “Civil Society & Think Tank Forum I: Road to Berlin” of this year’s Berlin Process Summit. The forum is hosted by the German Government, and supported by the German Federal Foreign Office. The first day
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