News and updates from BCSDN and the region
After a long pause, the Conference on the Future of Europe will be finally launched on 9 May 2021 by the European Parliament, Council, and Commission. Some of the major developments, such as the increase in turnout in the 2019 European elections, the adoption of the EU 7-year budget, including a recovery plan through joint
Read more →CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE) delivered its latest report as a part of the platform’s engagement to effective development cooperation and SDGs’ fulfillment. Through case studies delivered by individual countries, the publication analyzes the Effective Development Cooperation principles in COVID-19 response worldwide, outlining the government’s anti-COVID-19 measures and implications on CSOs’ work, CSO strategies,
Read more →As part of the multi-country action component of the Sida-funded Regional Civil Society Development Hub, BCSDN proudly presents the 10 successful regional grantees, whose projects and knowledge shared will contribute towards the Hub’s mission to strengthening regional cooperation and protecting the civic space in the Western Balkans. Through their work and engagement, the networks will
Read more →The latest Amnesty International Report: “The State of the World’s Human Rights” presents the CEE and SEE governments used the pandemic to tighten controls over justice systems, curtail freedoms, and further discriminate the marginalized communities, increase state control over the judiciary and media, etc. While in some countries, the governments failed to implement adequate measures
Read more →As the new IPA III financial framework (2021-2027) is being finalized, BCSDN has published its latest Opinion, discussing how the EU can more effectively support civil society. In the new IPA III, civil society remains a thematic priority for intervention and is for the first time a cross-cutting theme in all five windows. Amid growing
Read more →BCSDN gladly announces the revised version of the Call for Proposals for Ad-Hoc Grants under the Sida-funded Regional Civil Society Development Hub. To support CSO efforts and regional cooperation in promoting the civic space in the WB region, we have broadened the Call’s scope and extended the funding opportunities to informal organizations as well. The
Read more →In its latest Opinion adopted on 24 March 2021, the EESC has noted the importance of civil society to have a greater role in the entire enlargement process and be better recognized in the new accession methodology, stressing also that building the national capacity of CSOs and facilitating regional cooperation and exchange should be among
Read more →Assessing the progress made by Albania, Kosovo, N. Macedonia, and Serbia in the last two years, in their reports, MEPs indicate the countries’ progress towards the EU depends on in-depth reforms across fundamental areas. MEPs welcome Albania’s commitment to the EU integration and call for a formal start of accession negotiations. The normalization of Kosovo
Read more →On 25 March 2021, Anja Bosilkova- Antovska, BCSDN Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, participated at the Regional Thematic Network Forum: “Role of CSOs and CSOs Thematic Networks- Structuring the Dialogue with Public Authorities for Policy Reforms (Local/ Regional Initiatives)”, organized by Local Democracy Agency Subotica, as a member of the Balkan Network for Local Democracy (BNLD).
Read more →On 18 March, BCSDN member Partners Albania, together with ECNL and BCSDN, organized the regional workshop: “NPO engagement in Anti-Money Laundry/ Combating Financing of Terrorism processes– lessons from the WBT”. Ms. Juliana Hoxha, the Executive Director of PA, opened the workshop introducing organization’s current projects on AML/CFT, and together with Ms. Klotilda Tavani Kosta, the
Read more →As part of the Regional Civil Society Development Hub activities, BCSDN is proud to announce the 10 successful grantees awarded under the first Call for proposals for regional multi-country action grants. The aim of the Hub is strengthened regional cooperation in promoting the civic space in the Western Balkan region, by supporting activities that will
Read more →On 3 March 2021, BCSDN Executive Director Biljana Spasovska participated in the EESC Section for External Relations meeting “Western Balkans, in the contest of the EU-Western Balkans relations and the Covid-19 pandemic”. The meeting brought prominent speakers from the EU institutions to provide their views and debate on EU’s commitment to enhance the accession process
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