What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

CfA: Regional Training for Journalists: Reporting on Green Agenda for the Western Balkans (Deadline: 24 August)

Target Group: Journalists from the Western Balkans 6 with at least three years of professional newsroom experience and working proficiency in English. Aim: To strengthen journalists’ capacities to report on the Green Agenda, energy transition and climate issues through solutions journalism, expert input, practical training and development of concrete story ideas. Countries: Albania, Bosnia and

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CfA: Capacity Development Programme for CSOs 2026-2027 (Deadline: 30 August)

Target Group: CSOs working on inclusive, rights-based and sustainable digital development, particularly organisations from the Global South and those representing rights, accessibility, inclusion, gender and youth communities. Aim: Strengthen CSOs’ knowledge and skills to engage in digital policy processes, covering internet governance, infrastructure and standards, cybersecurity, AI policy, diplomacy and negotiation. Countries: Global, with particular

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CfA: 2026 Goran Bubalo Peace Award (Deadline: 1 September)

Short Description: The Peacebuilding Network (Mreža za izgradnju mira) invites nominations for the 2026 Goran Bubalo Peace Award, recognising individuals and educational institutions for outstanding contributions to peacebuilding, human rights, justice and civic activism in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The award honours both long-term commitment and achievements made over the past year. Countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina

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CfA: Champion of Regional Cooperation Dr Erhard Busek Award (Deadline: 14 September)

Short Description:  The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), in partnership with the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), invites nominations for the Champion of Regional Cooperation Dr. Erhard Busek Award 2026. The award recognises individuals and organisations whose leadership, vision and long-term commitment have made an outstanding contribution to regional cooperation, European integration,

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CfA: Democracy Stories Lab (Deadline: 14 September)

Short Description: People Powered, in partnership with the Democracy Narratives Alliance (DNA), invites creators worldwide to submit visual stories that inspire new narratives about democracy. The call seeks creative content that explores how people can collectively shape decisions affecting their communities and futures. Eligible formats include short videos, illustrations and graphics, with awards for the

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CfA: Democracy Forward – Inspiration Festival

Short Description: Democracy Forward is an inspiration festival bringing together civil society, thinkers, practitioners and other stakeholders to exchange ideas and practices for strengthening democracy. The programme focuses on citizen participation, trust in information and media, inclusion of less-heard voices, public spaces and the future of democracy. Participation is free and limited to 80 participants.

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CfA: Call for Papers for an Edited Volume: Civil Society Resistance to Authoritarianism (Deadline: 1 December)

Short Description: Call for country and thematic chapters for an edited academic volume examining how civil society responds to and contains authoritarian threats. Contributions may analyse country experiences or cross-country themes and strategies, including protests, strategic litigation, coalition-building, international advocacy, digital security, monitoring, and responses to propaganda and disinformation. Selected chapters should be up to

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2026 European Commission Rule of Law Report Highlights Persistent Civic Space Challenges in Enlargement Countries

The European Commission has published its 2026 Rule of Law Report, including country chapters for Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. The report identifies persistent challenges affecting civic space, including pressure on civil society and journalists, SLAPPs, political interference, restrictions on fundamental freedoms, and limited access to information. It also highlights uneven public consultation practices,

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Civil Society & Think Tank Forum 2026 (5-7 October, Prishtina)

The Civil Society & Think Tank Forum (CSF) 2026 will take place from 5–7 October in Prishtina, organised by the Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans in partnership with the Government of Kosovo and in cooperation with the Government of Montenegro under the Berlin Process Chairmanship. As the official civil society platform of the Berlin

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BIRN Report Highlights Rising Digital Rights Threats Across the Western Balkans and Türkiye

BIRN’s latest regional digital rights report documents 152 violations recorded in the first quarter of 2026, highlighting increasing pressure on digital rights across the Western Balkans and Türkiye. The report identifies economic fraud, online harassment, gender-based violence, data breaches and coordinated attacks targeting journalists and civil society as the region’s most pressing digital rights challenges.

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Albania Advances EU Accession with First Three Negotiating Chapters Closed

Albania has provisionally closed its first three negotiating chapters in its EU accession process, marking a significant milestone on its path towards EU membership. At the ninth Accession Conference, the country closed the chapters on Science and Research (25), Education and Culture (26), and External Relations (30) following the European Commission’s positive assessment of its

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Media Freedom in Serbia Faces Deepening Crisis, New Report Warns

A report by the IPI and Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium warns that media freedom in Serbia is facing a deepening crisis. The findings point to record levels of violence against journalists, death threats, online smear campaigns, SLAPPs, surveillance and growing political control over the media landscape. In 2025 alone, 209 press freedom violations

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