News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Slapp lawsuits against public participation, as coined by University of Denver professors George Pring and Penelope Canan, translate d.o.o. are strategic lawsuits against public participation, essentially lawsuits by the most powerful and rich with the aim of silencing public interest issues. The first to be attacked by these lawsuits are journalists who, according to the
Read more →According to PACE’s Culture Committee, there is an urgent need for all Council of Europe member states to act together against SLAPPs – frivolous, vexatious, or malicious legal proceedings that aim to intimidate, harass, or silence their targets, thus threatening the public. European governments should enact powers to dismiss manifestly unfounded or abusive litigation, require
Read more →The newly released Civil Society State of the Union Report offers valuable insights and recommendations on meaningful actions. The report urges the EUI and member states to adopt a strategy that recognizes CSOs as allies in designing and implementing people-centered and human rights-based policies that foster inclusive public participation. To establish ethical frameworks that allow
Read more →Civil Society Europe published the Civil Society State of the Union report which provides recommendations to EU institutions, member states, and other stakeholders, including some specific to funding or fundraising. The report’s first recommendation is the creation of a strategy to “defend a safe and enabling environment for civil society”. This would include measures to
Read more →Philea welcomes the importance given in the State of Union (SOTEU) to the annual rule of law reports, which now include a strand on enabling frameworks for civil society including philanthropy. However, more can be done to increase the engagement of CSOs, including public benefit foundations, in the dialogues leading up to, and following up
Read more →The inappropriate use of AI systems could jeopardize fundamental democratic principles. Regulatory gaps, including exemptions for national security and law enforcement, could be taken advantage of to undermine democratic structures and procedures, as well as the rule of law. It is essential for the AI Act to establish a strong and secure regulatory framework that
Read more →The media does not report enough about NPOs and their activities, and when they report it is rare, scathing, insufficient, on a small scale, and without going into substance. This is how most organizations in the region, and beyond, will describe their relationship with the media. To overcome this problem, it is necessary that organizations
Read more →Advisory body of the Council of Ministers of BiH for cooperation with NPOs points out that the adoption of the Draft Law on Special Register and Public Work of NPOs, which was considered on September 26 at the session of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, is harmful. According to the proposed legislation, CSOs in
Read more →BCSDN member Partners Albania for Change and Development published a Practical Guide to Prevent Potential Abuse of NPOs for Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing. The Guide provides an overview of the legal and regulatory framework for the prevention of money laundering and financing of terrorism applicable to NPOs, as well as some case studies to
Read more →European civil society calls for improved space and dialogue before the next European elections, with two key requests: a European Civil Society Strategy and an Interinstitutional Civil Dialogue Agreement. Philea actively supports the “Civil Society for EU” campaign, in conjunction with its work for philanthropic actors and the European Philanthropy Manifesto update. While shared issues
Read more →As the EU is at the final stage of negotiations on the AI Act, civil society is concerned about a major loophole to the high-risk classification process of the legislation that Big Tech and other industry players have lobbied to introduce. More than 115 CSOs urged MEPs to stand against the tech and industry lobby
Read more →The research, titled ‘Harassment of Fact-checking Media in Europe,’ shows that 9 out of 10 surveyed fact-checking organizations were exposed to smear campaigns, online harassment, and attacks by politicians and other public figures. Almost all European fact-checking organizations suffered attacks and smear campaigns by political actors and public figures aimed at questioning their credibility, often
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