News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers adopted the Recommendation on countering the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). The newly adopted Recommendation provides a definition of SLAPPs, understood “as legal actions that are threatened, initiated or pursued as means of harassing or intimidating their target, and which seek to prevent, inhibit, restrict
Read more →ENCL’s latest position paper analyzes how the proposed Directive of the European Parliament and the Council establishing harmonised requirements in the internal market on transparency of interest representation carried out on behalf of third countries and amending the previous Directive may unnecessarily and disproportionately impact CSOs’ activities, as well as their freedom of expression, association,
Read more →The SafeJournalists Network expresses concern over coordinated efforts to undermine Citizens Channel, an independent media outlet in Albania. Recent actions to remove its content from Facebook, citing violations such as spam or rule-breaking, threaten independent journalism and citizens’ right to quality information. Such attacks not only infringe on journalistic rights but also intimidate other media
Read more →The European Centre for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL), Liberties, and the European Civic Forum (ECF) scrutinize the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), approved by the European Parliament on March 13. Despite being three years in the making, the AI Act fails to adequately safeguard fundamental rights and civic space. The organizations highlight five major
Read more →Romania faces a year of intense political campaigning as it organizes European, local, presidential, and parliamentary elections. Jornalists’ ability to successfully exercise the journalistic mission will be crucial for ensuring free and fair elections. Journalists must resist political pressure to report on political leaders, their programmes, and their records in office to ensure the public
Read more →The Global Fund for Community Foundations (GFCF) is organizing a workshop to challenge traditional metrics of evaluating community-driven initiatives. The discussion aims to promote more inclusive and community-centered approaches to measuring success. Traditional metrics often prioritize quantitative outcomes, neglecting the true impact and complexities of civil society. This conversation will highlight innovative measurement methods from
Read more →The European Parliament and the member states reached a political agreement to provide 6 billion EUR to help Western Balkan countries get ready to join the EU. The highly concessional loans and grants will help make WB economies strong and change things for the better. With this support, the Western Balkans can move faster towards
Read more →Target group: Albanian not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations. Aim: The aim of the Democracy Commission Program, Round 2 FY2024, facilitated by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Embassy in Tirana, is to support initiatives that promote democracy, good governance, human rights, and other related areas in Albania. The program
Read more →Target group: CSOs registered in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Aim: Youth Fund for Local Youth Initiatives provides grants to support CSOs for projects that will improve and develop participatory youth policies in communities of the Western Balkans by supporting youth initiatives and fostering active citizenship and participation of young people
Read more →Target group: A legal person, non-profit-making, a non-governmental organisation and established in Albania or in a Member State of the European Union or in another IPA III beneficiary or in one of the members of the European Economic Area covered by CIR. Aim: The global objective is to strengthen the role and capacity of civil
Read more →Target group: Non-profit legal entities from EU Member States and associated countries (Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Kosovo, and Ukraine), with transnational projects, meeting specified grant criteria. Aim: To combat gender-based violence and violence against children, addressing societal challenges rooted in gender inequality. It seeks proposals for projects that prevent violence, protect victims, and make integrated child
Read more →Target group: Organisations – media outlets, both traditional and online media, groups/teams of journalists with the status of a legal entity (e.g. associations, formally established networks, etc) and non-governmental media organisations in Western Balkans countries. Aim: To support well-defined innovative projects, actions and initiatives that go beyond regular operations – but not to finance regular
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