What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

BCSDN Annual Background Analysis: WBT Civil Society in the New Geopolitical Reality: A Crisis as an Opportunity for Restoring EU Enlargement Credibility?

Following the publication of the annual European Commission Enlargement Package 2022, BCSDN is issuing the 13th background analysis assessing the progress made in the area of civil society development and dialogue with public institutions in Enlargement countries against the BCSDN Monitoring Matrix. The 2022 Enlargement Package comes in the wake of radical geo-political and economic

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BCSDN Position on the EC Consultation on a European Statute for NPOs and Single Market for Associations

Following the European Parliament`s legislative initiative resolution (2020/2026(INL), with recommendations to the Commission to harmonize the status of non-profits throughout the EU and establish a statute for European association, BCSDN publishes an official position, emphasizing the need for the Western Balkans and Turkey as aspiring EU members to have their say in the process. While

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European Commission Work Programme 2023

The European Commission has published its working program for the upcoming 2023. The published communique states that following up on the European Parliament resolution under article 225 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the institution will table a legislative initiative on a statute for European cross-border associations, to enable them to

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Research Studies Online Presentation: “Civil Society and Private Sector Cooperation: Regional Practices within the Global Trends and Threats”

BCSDN organizes an online launching event for the research papers prepared within the scope of the CSO – Private Sector engagement research, supported by the CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness. At the event, our partners – Albanian Center for Economic Research, European Policy Institute – Skopje (North Macedonia), and TRAG Foundation (Serbia) – will present

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North Macedonia: Monitoring Matrix Report on the Enabling Environment for the Development of Civil Society in 2021

Based on the Monitoring Matrix for the enabling environment for the development of civil society, developed by BCSDN members, the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC) published the report on the enabling environment for the development of civil society for Macedonia for 2021. The report monitors the conditions in the environment in which civil society operates

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State of the Union Address: To Defend Democracy, it Must Answer People`s Needs, Involving CSOs in EU Policymaking 

Following President of EC von der Leyen’s address at the State of the Union which reflected on various issues and broadly formulated proposals, often not detailed enough for immediate in-depth analysis, the European Civic Forum has published an editorial on the address. The document examines the narrative and the proposals to reinforce European democracy. It

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ECNL: 2022 Global Hub Workshop on AML/CFT held in Paris

Around 70 CSOs representatives and activists from 45 countries gathered in 3 days workshop in September 2022 to reconnect and reinforce their responses to AML/CFT civic freedoms restrictions. Activists discussed critical needs, lessons learned, and suggestions for the ongoing revision of the FATF standards, methodology, and guidance documents. They also analyzed emerging trends and issues

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Serbia Listed on the CIVICUS Watch List Due to Rapid Civic Space Declain

As a result of obstructing or repressing civic space, CIVICUS Monitor has recently published a new watchlist of countries. Due to the government’s attempts to ban the LGBTQI+ EuroPride march event, the constant attacks on human rights activists, SLAPPs, and omnipresent pro-right rhetoric, Serbia has joined the watchlist alongside Zimbabwe, Guinea, Sri Lanka, and Guatemala.

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