News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) has called for urgent institutional action following serious online threats against journalist and columnist Erol Rizaov. The threats, posted in comments on his official Facebook page, included calls for violence and ethnically motivated insults. AJM submitted an urgent request to the Ministry of Interior, asking authorities to preserve
Read more →Eko Straža addressed the European Parliament and other EU institutions over the detention of its founder, Bojan Simišić, warning that the case reflects a broader pattern of pressure on civil society activists and government critics in Serbia. Simišić was detained at the border and questioned by criminal police over alleged involvement in a “staged simulation”
Read more →On 2 June, BCSDN member, the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC) organised the first workshop aimed at improving implementation of the Code for CSOs, five years after its adoption. Bringing together Civica Mobilitas grantees, the workshop explored how stronger monitoring mechanisms can enhance accountability, transparency and public trust in civil society. Participants drew on
Read more →A new report on Good Practices of Civic Space Resilience explores how civil society in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia and Slovenia responds to democratic backsliding, political polarisation and growing legal, administrative and public pressure. Drawing on concrete country cases, the report shows that resilience goes beyond simply withstanding restrictions: it is the capacity to
Read more →The Possible Now Summit, taking place in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 2–4 December 2026, will bring together people exploring new approaches to social change, solidarity and collective action. Emerging from the 2023 #ShiftThePower Global Summit in Bogotá, Possible Now seeks to connect innovative but often isolated practices and experiments into a broader ecosystem capable of challenging
Read more →Philea’s legal mapping provides an overview of the regulatory and fiscal conditions in which foundations and philanthropy operate across Europe. Developed with national and international legal experts, the work looks at key aspects of the operating environment, including registration and reporting requirements, governance, economic activities and tax treatment, while also tracking wider legal and policy
Read more →The EFA European Fundraising Forum will bring together fundraisers, sector leaders and stakeholders on 19 November 2026 in Leuven to discuss developments shaping fundraising and philanthropy across Europe. The Forum will explore how regulation, technology and changing civic space are affecting fundraising, alongside questions of purpose, impact and long-term sustainability. Participants will exchange perspectives on
Read more →Target Group: CSOs, collectives and networks working with or for LGBTIQ+ communities.Aim: To support locally rooted advocacy and awareness-raising initiatives that advance LGBTIQ+ rights, visibility and inclusion, combat discrimination, influence policies and practices, and encourage informed public dialogue.Countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and SerbiaAmount: Up to EUR 9,000Duration: Up to 10 months, starting
Read more →Target Group: CSOs, community-based organisations and other non-governmental organisations legally registered in Albania for at least five years. Aim: Support community-based initiatives on biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, sustainable land management, pollution reduction, waste management and sustainable livelihoods. Countries: Albania Amount: Up to USD 75,000 per project; co-financing required for grants between USD 50,000 and USD
Read more →Target Group: Partnerships of two or more organisations from different countries, including CSOs, public institutions, private companies, and multilateral or global organisations. Aim: To support new international partnerships in developing reciprocal work exchange projects that strengthen institutional development, mutual learning and sustainable development, while providing young people aged 18–35 with international professional experience. Countries: ODA-eligible
Read more →Target Group: Regional and local public bodies, bodies governed by public law, eligible non-profit organisations and European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTCs). Aim: Support small-scale cross-border projects on biodiversity, green infrastructure and pollution reduction, and on culture and sustainable tourism, economic development, social inclusion and social innovation Countries: Greece and Albania Amount: EUR 120,000–400,000 per
Read more →Target Group: Legally registered media organisations committed to independent, high-quality public-interest journalism. Aim: Support investigative and in-depth journalism that directly engages communities in identifying and reporting underreported issues, with particular encouragement for stories involving underrepresented groups. Countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Serbia and Slovakia. Amount: Up to
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