News and updates from BCSDN and the region
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
Read more →From 22 February- 2 March 2021, through seven online consultation meetings with the Western Balkans and Turkey IPA beneficiaries, EU TACSO 3 presented and received feedback to the draft version of the Guidelines for EU Support to Civil Society in the Enlargement Region for the period 2021-2027. Over 300 CSO representatives, public authorities, donors, and
Read more →On 25-26 February 2021, Think for Europe Network – TEN organized the WeBER 2.0 conference to enhance the dialogue on creating and implementing inclusive and transparent policies, taking into consideration citizens’ needs. The event, which is one of the 10 initiatives supported by Sida through BCSDN’s Regional Civil Society Development Hub, strived to facilitate greater
Read more →The Presidents of the European Commission, European Parliament, and Council have signed the Joint Declaration on the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE), agreeing to “open a new space for debate with citizens to address Europe’s challenges and priorities” so people all over Europe can “have their say on the future of Europe”. The “citizens-focused,
Read more →ECNL, Civil Society Europe, and other civil society partners call on the European Commission to strengthen the rule of law mechanism by including stronger civic freedoms and civil society protection. Some of the recommendations that the future MSs rule of law reports should contain are: Revised methodology to set a clear link between the respect of
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