News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Target group: Young policymakers, public servants, and civil society actors Countries: Baltic Sea Region, the EU’s Eastern Partnership, and the Western Balkans Short Description: Lund University offers three distinct programs under the Swedish Institute Academy for Young Professionals (SAYP) in 2024. These programs aim to provide capacity-building opportunities for young professionals in areas such as
Read more →Target group: European foundations actively supporting the social, green, and digital transitions, as well as art and cultural funders seeking collaboration and innovation. Countries: European countries Short Description: The “European Philanthropy for a Just Triple Transition” event gathers European foundations and funders to discuss support for social, green, and digital transitions. It fosters collaboration and
Read more →Target group: Civil society actors, government officials, journalists, lawyers, bar associations, trade unions, and relevant stakeholders. Countries: BiH Short Description: Invitation for inputs regarding the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association for the Special Rapporteur’s visit. Topics include challenges, good practices, and emerging issues. Duration: Inputs accepted until April 15, 2024, with the
Read more →Target group: Innovators, developers, and individuals interested in utilizing open data for innovative solutions. Countries: ReSPA Members – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia Short Description: The Regional Open Data Challenge 2024 (RODC 2024) is a collaborative initiative between ReSPA and UNDP Serbia aimed at promoting the innovative reuse of open data.
Read more →Bosnia and Herzegovina has received green light for EU accession negotiations, marking significant progress. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the decision, citing BiH’s alignment with EU policies and adoption of crucial laws, such as the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest, and the Law on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing
Read more →In its latest opinion, EESC emphasizes the need to enhance citizen participation, as outlined in Article 11 of the Treaty of the European Union, and calls for a coherent strategy for civil dialogue, proposing an action plan and a potential interinstitutional agreement among EU bodies. It suggests making Article 11 more effective by reinforcing actors
Read more →The 2024 CIVICUS State of Civil Society Report highlights global trends in civil society action, addressing conflicts, democracy, inclusion, and climate justice. Drawing from CIVICUS Lens and over 250 interviews/articles covering 100+ countries, the report emphasizes civil society’s response to crises, despite obstacles and repression. Civil society remains a vital source of hope, holding the
Read more →In an open letter to the EU institutions, 41 organizations specializing in democratic innovation urge the prioritization, promotion, and stimulation of democratic innovation and citizen engagement. Recognizing the increasing challenges to democracy, including disillusionment and disengagement, the letter emphasizes the need for bold measures. The organizations propose integrating citizen deliberation processes with clear objectives, quality
Read more →The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted the annual Civil Society Week, gathering over 800 representatives from CSOs and youth groups to discuss the future of the EU and the upcoming elections. The key messages included a call for more resilient democracies and youth involvement, combatting misinformation, prioritizing an economy that works for people
Read more →A coalition of human rights organizations, including ARTICLE 19 and Human Rights Watch, has called on social media platforms to protect users’ free expression rights and resist state censorship ahead of Turkey’s municipal elections on 31 March. The organizations emphasize the importance of transparency in disclosing government requests and pressure to restrict content. They criticize
Read more →The “Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Criminal Code” adopted on 20 July 2023, by the National Assembly in Republika Srpska, introduces criminal penalties for defamation, disclosure of personal information, and based on race, religion, or nationality. While previous analyses focused on media impacts, the ECNL examines how these amendments affect civil society, activists,
Read more →In 2023, press freedom in Europe faced diverse threats, despite a decrease in journalist killings. Wars in Ukraine, and Karabakh, and conflicts like the Israel-Hamas confrontation had repercussions on media freedom. Russia used war as a pretext to tighten control of media, detain journalists, and engage in transnational repression. The Council of Europe (CoE) report
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