News and updates from BCSDN and the region
A new policy brief, prepared by the regional WeBER initiative, explores the approaches of public administrations in the Western Balkans in regards to the COVID-19 crisis. The brief presents the quality of communication and implementation of the measures taken by the governments of the region in responding to the pandemic. It argues that streamlined and
Read more →The paper discusses the nexus between the EU pre-accession conditionality and membership obligations to guarantee respect for the rule of law as a founding value of the EU, common to the member states. It examines how the EU’s rule of law promotion in the accession process converges with and potentially inspires the progressive EU articulation
Read more →The Government of North Macedonia adopted a decision on allocation of funds for financial support of associations and foundations to support the fight with the COVID-19 crisis, in the total amount of 29.519.495 MKD. The sources will be provided to finance program activities of associations and foundations through grants from 600,000 up to 900,000 MKD.
Read more →A number of European organizations signed an anti- Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) policy paper in Europe, indicating that the EU must end gag lawsuits used to silence individuals and organizations that hold those in positions of power to account. The organizations suggest that SLAPPs are lawsuits brought forward by powerful actors such as
Read more →As part of a coordinated campaign, 9 European members of the Civil Liberties Union for Europe filed a freedom of information requests to national authorities to ensure that governments are abiding by EU data protection legislation. CSOs from Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden, expressed their opinion that they would like to
Read more →MCIC published a report on the governance practices on transparency and accountability of CSOs in North Macedonia. The research is part of the program “Sustainable Civil Society – State Financing of CSOs, implemented by MCIC together with BCSDN and CNVOS from Slovenia during the period 2018-2021. The program is funded by the EU. The report
Read more →Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU political agenda virtually screeched to a halt, and most ongoing policy proposals have been placed in the fridge, as the Institutions needed to focus on the immediate crisis and the necessary measures to tackle it. Having absorbed the first shock, the European Commission, on 27 May, tabled two
Read more →The European Civic Forum and Stefan Batory Foundation addressed a letter to EU and National leaders, which was signed by numerous civic organizations. The CSOs recall that at the end of May 2020, the European Commission presented a strategy of overcoming the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing the future for the next
Read more →OSCE Mission to Skopje supports civil society groups, associations, charities to cope with security challenges in the country by addressing the needs of particularly vulnerable and underserved communities in the face of the COVID-19 emergency. With support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the endeavor aims to support the people of North Macedonia and civil
Read more →Recognizing the fundamental rights of all citizens, NDI has launched the Equal Rights in Action Fund (ERA Fund) to provide small grants to local organizations across the world who work to promote and defend the human rights of marginalized groups. Assistance provided through the ERA Fund is dedicated to achieving: safe and secure environments; political
Read more →The call provides the opportunity of financial cooperation and support to 3 CSOs active in the field of human rights and gender equality in three targeted regions in the country. Sub-granting will enable the financial environment that supports the sustainability of grassroots CSOs while ensuring that they can perform independently as free legal aid providers
Read more →The global objective of the call is to strengthen participatory democracies and the EU integration process in Montenegro by empowering the civil society to take part in the decision-making process actively and by stimulating an enabling legal, institutional and financial environment for civil society and pluralist media. The specific objective of the call is to
Read more →