News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Short Description: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) and the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) invite undergraduate and graduate students from the Western Balkans to apply for the youth exchange program Western Balkans meet Japan: A Bridge into the Future. Target Group: Undergraduate and graduate students (aged 20+) from WB6, with good command
Read more →Short Description: Join this 2-hour training designed for staff and activists from NGOs, unions, electoral campaigns, and grassroots movements. Learn practical strategies to counter the Far Right’s online influence, including their top 15 messaging and digital tactics, and discover research-backed approaches to strengthen your movement. Target Group: Staff and activists with non-profits, NGOs, unions, and
Read more →We are pleased to announce that on 1 October 2025 in Tirana (Albania), BCSDN, together with Partners Albania, will host the regional conference “Resilient Voices: Civil Society in a Changing Western Balkans.” This high-level event will bring together civil society actors, EU institutions, national governments, and donors to explore the shifting civic landscape in the
Read more →The Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe has established the European Anti-SLAPP Monitor which aims at providing information on the status of transposition and implementation of European instruments on SLAPPs at national level. It will track the progress of European Union and Council of Europe member states in transposing and implementing the Anti-SLAPP Directive and the CoE Recommendation.
Read more →The newly released Global State of Democracy (GSoD) Report 2025 paints a sobering picture of the current global climate of radical uncertainty, with political turbulence in the United States highlighting wider patterns of democratic fragility and declining trust in multilateralism. The data show that in 2024, more than half of all countries assessed (94, or
Read more →Following European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s annual State of the Union speech, Civil Society Europe and over 35 other organizations released their own report. While they welcomed commitments on the rule of law and media resilience, they are calling for bolder action, including the creation of a European Electoral Authority and a formal
Read more →New EU anti-money laundering regulations, set to take effect in July 2027, pose a significant threat to the enabling environment for civil society organizations (CSOs) by targeting a vital fundraising tool: crowdfunding. Despite being a crucial and low-cost way for CSOs and informal groups to mobilize resources, platforms like North Macedonia’s Op-Op and Slovakia’s Donio
Read more →In a move to empower civil society actors, the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL) has released a new guide on how to use EU law to challenge restrictive national legislation. This resource provides a practical, step-by-step approach for organizations facing unlawful or limiting measures, clarifying legal avenues at both the national and EU levels.
Read more →A new project led by ERA LGBTI with support from the EU is demonstrating CSO accountability in action by producing evidence-based policy briefs to promote the protection of LBQ women in the Western Balkans. Based on extensive research, legal analysis, and community focus groups in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Serbia, these briefs serve
Read more →A recently published recording has revealed alleged backroom deals to silence independent media in Serbia, intensifying concerns over the country’s media freedom. The private conversation, exposed by OCCRP and KRIK, suggests political pressure to remove Aleksandra Subotić, the executive director of United Media, which owns critical broadcasters N1 and Nova S. This incident follows a
Read more →A new report on individual giving in Türkiye offers key insights for CSOs’ donor strategies, revealing both opportunities and challenges. Following the 2023 earthquakes, disaster giving surged, with a significant 25% of donations going directly to CSOs, highlighting their crucial role in crisis response. However, the report also shows that only 13% of the population
Read more →With traditional funding models under pressure, a new focus on localisation and alternative finance is emerging as a critical donor strategy for the future of civil society. The text highlights that despite its importance, less than 2% of global humanitarian funding currently reaches local organizations directly, leaving them underfunded and burdened by compliance rules. This,
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