News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Target Groups: CSOs, non-profit initiatives, natural persons and private companies registered in the EU implementing initiatives to combat poverty. Short Description: The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is inviting applications for its 16th Civil Society Prize, dedicated to effective, innovative and creative initiatives combating poverty in the EU. The prize recognises initiatives that contribute
Read more →Target Groups:CSOs, non-profit initiatives, natural persons and private companies registered in the EU implementing initiatives to combat poverty. Short Description: The Yale Law School Gruber Program supports one-year projects or placements advancing global justice and women’s rights. Fellows work with eligible host organisations on practical public-interest projects involving areas such as human rights, advocacy, policy
Read more →Following the EU Delegation’s consultation with civil society, Partners Albania submitted its written contribution to the programming of EU financial assistance to Albania under the next Multiannual Financial Framework. The contribution calls for greater focus on the effective implementation, monitoring and accountability of reforms, alongside stronger democratic governance, civic participation and an enabling environment for
Read more →Bosnia and Herzegovina still lacks a state-level Law on Citizens’ Initiative, leaving citizens without a unified framework for direct participation in decision-making. The Aarhus Centre in BiH has submitted a draft law to the Parliamentary Assembly, aiming to establish clear rules for launching citizens’ initiatives and ensure that institutions respond to issues of public interest.
Read more →BCSDN is launching the Regional Civic Space Early Warning System & Response Mechanism, a 12-month pilot aimed at identifying emerging civic space threats earlier and translating existing evidence into timely engagement and response. Across the Western Balkans and Türkiye, restrictive legislation, administrative and financial pressures, intimidation, attacks and limitations on participation can accumulate, while responses
Read more →BCSDN’s analysis of the 2026 European Commission Rule of Law Reports, compared with findings from its Monitoring Matrix, highlights continued pressure on civic space across Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. While the EC captures many important concerns, BCSDN’s monitoring provides a broader picture of implementation gaps and accumulating legal, administrative, financial and digital pressures
Read more →Throughout June and July, BCSDN member Partners Albania organised three regional consultation meetings under Thematic Working Group on Civic Space and Democratization, bringing together around 50 civil society, media, think tank representatives and experts from across the Western Balkans. The consultations provided a space to identify shared challenges affecting civic space and democratic development, exchange
Read more →The European Democracy Shield marks an important recognition of democratic resilience as a European security imperative, but its success will depend on concrete action rather than new structures, according to EU CRTA. This is particularly relevant for the Western Balkans, one of Europe’s most exposed democratic frontlines, where civil society, independent media, researchers and human
Read more →KoneKtor 2026 will bring together foundations, donors and civil society in Chișinău to examine how philanthropy can respond to rising authoritarianism, shrinking civic space and growing pressure on communities. The event will explore what authoritarianism looks like today, who is most at risk, and how philanthropic actors can help protect vulnerable groups, support independent media
Read more →A new civil society report following the first UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance calls for a more inclusive, equitable and human rights-based approach to governing artificial intelligence. Developed by five civil society coalitions, the report welcomes the Dialogue as a step towards international cooperation but identifies gaps in civil society participation, representation of marginalised
Read more →At least 25 cases of satellite navigation interference have been recorded affecting Serbia over the past four years, several coinciding with major anti-government protests, elections and other politically sensitive events. The incidents include GPS jamming and “spoofing”, which transmits false navigation data to affected systems. During protests in Belgrade in May 2026, interference forced drones
Read more →SCiDEV highlighted concerns raised by European media freedom organisations over deteriorating media freedom and civic space in Albania during the Flamingo Revolution. Journalists have faced obstruction, attacks and police interference, while crowd-control measures and protest-related criminal procedures have raised concerns over proportionality, transparency and due process. Notably, 15 of the 27 threats and attacks recorded
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