News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Target group: Journalists from the Western Balkans and Türkiye Countries: Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia) and Türkiye Short Description: The EU Award for Investigative Journalism 2024, organized as part of the “Strengthening Quality Journalism in Western Balkans and Türkiye II” project, invites journalists from the Western Balkans and Türkiye
Read more →Target group: Western Balkans and V4 doctoral students or fellows that hold a doctoral degree (regardless of their current affiliation). Countries: Western Balkans and V4 countries Short Description: The Western Balkans–Visegrad Fellowships allow WB6 citizens to apply for short-term fellowships at V4 research institutions (in Czechia, Poland, Hungary, or Slovakia). Reciprocally, V4 applicants can apply
Read more →Target group: Aspiring Journalists in Europe Countries: EU Member States, Neighbouring, and Accession Countries. Short Description: The Commission launches the application period for the 8th edition of Youth4Regions, targeting aspiring journalists. Successful applicants will undergo a week-long training in Brussels, including sessions, mentorship, press room work, and visits to EU institutions. Applications are open in
Read more →Target group: Human rights activists worldwide, working at the grassroots level with NGOs. Countries: Applicants from all regions of the world, except high-income countries unless they represent marginalized communities. Short Description: The HRAP is designed to strengthen the skills, knowledge, and networks of human rights activists. It focuses on various issues including sexual and gender-based
Read more →Target group: Public sector institutions in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo. Countries: Western Balkans Short Description: The Public Administration Awards in the Western Balkans, organized by ReSPA and SIGMA, seeks to recognize initiatives improving public service delivery and governance. These awards highlight projects fostering good governance, citizen engagement, and innovation
Read more →The Council of the European Union has approved a Growth Plan for the Western Balkans (2024-2027), offering up to 2 billion EUR in grants and 4 billion EUR in loans. Beneficiaries must meet preconditions like democratic governance, free media, rule of law, and alignment with EU foreign policy, including measures against Russia. They must submit
Read more →The European Commission has moved ahead with the “Directive on Transparency of Interest Representation on Behalf of Third Countries” despite fierce opposition from European civil society since its unveiling in 2023. Despite claims that it aims to increase transparency, critics argue it resembles foreign agent laws seen elsewhere, posing a threat to civil society and the media
Read more →On 11-12 June, in Istanbul, Turkey, TUSEV and STGM, with EU support, will organize the International Conference on Freedom of Association “Strong Civil Society”. Convening CSOs from Türkiye and abroad, the Conference aims to address challenges to civic space and strengthen NGOs as pillars of democracy. Discussions will highlight innovative strategies to safeguard human rights
Read more →The European Parliament finalized a legislation as they strive to secure final votes on several laws ahead of recess and the June EP elections. This includes the AI Act, the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), the anti-SLAPP Directive, as well as the contentious Corporate Sustainable Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). While most texts reached an agreement
Read more →The Civil Society Europe “Introduction to Civil Dialogue” manual addresses the lack of a legal framework for implementing the EU’s commitment to open dialogue with civil society, outlined in Article 11 of the Treaty on the European Union. Developed within the ‘EnTrust’ project, the manual aims to cultivate a culture of civil dialogue among EU
Read more →The ALL DIGITAL Weeks 2024 campaign, running from May 13-31, emphasizes digital skills for inclusion and employment across Europe. Organized by the ALL DIGITAL Network since 2010, it has aided 1.5 million individuals in gaining or improving digital skills. Supported by the European Commission, this year’s edition urges European citizens to enhance their digital proficiency,
Read more →The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined four international media freedom organisations and its six affiliates in the SafeJournalist network, condemning the harassment of journalist Furkan Saliu in North Macedonia. Saliu was detained and allegedly assaulted by police while covering a football match. Despite his subsequent release, concerns remain over police conduct and the deletion
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