News and updates from BCSDN and the region
At the European Commission’s annual Rule of Law report meeting, Civil Society Europe (CSE) called for urgent protection of civic space and fundamental rights. Co-chaired by CSE and Caroline Hansen from the Human Rights and Democracy Network (HRDN), the session emphasized coordinated efforts in Brussels and across Europe to safeguard democracy against political threats. Reflecting
Read more →In a stark warning from his 2025 report, Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset has highlighted that Europe is facing a “perfect storm” of crises. These include ongoing wars, significant geopolitical shifts, a decline in democratic values, and the rise of nationalism. Berset stressed that these challenges seriously threaten the peace and stability that
Read more →A new draft law submitted to the Hungarian Parliament has raised concerns among civil society and media watchdogs. The proposal seeks to require organisations and media outlets receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “foreign-funded,” a move critics fear could stigmatise independent voices and limit public trust. The law would
Read more →Civil Society Europe has announced the recipients of the 2025 Civil Dialogue Award, celebrating organisations that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to advancing structured civil dialogue and protecting civic space across Europe. The European Civic Forum was recognised for leading the #EUCivilDialogueNow campaign, pushing for a formalised framework for civil society participation at the EU level.
Read more →To complement its 2024 Annual Report, the Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) has released a new brochure titled Strengthening Civil Society in the Balkans. Designed to make key insights more accessible, the publication distills BCSDN’s achievements, ongoing initiatives, and strategic priorities in a visual and reader-friendly format. The brochure provides a snapshot of the
Read more →As shrinking civic space and media capture continue to reshape the landscape for civil society, timely and targeted information has become essential for effective donor engagement. A recent feature by Pikasa.ai explores how media intelligence is being used not only to understand shifting narratives but also to inform funding decisions, anticipate backlash, and evaluate the
Read more →The Western Balkans Circular Economy Hub has officially been launched, forming part of broader EU-supported efforts to promote sustainability and regional cooperation. Coordinated by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), the Hub has been envisaged as a platform for knowledge exchange, policy alignment, and intersectoral collaboration among civil society, public institutions, and the private sector. Its
Read more →Target Group: Non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entities; Non-governmental organizations; Local and regional self-government units , registered in Serbia Aim: To support development projects that align with the Medium-term Strategy for Development Cooperation of the Slovak Republic (2025–2030) in the following sectors: infrastructure and sustainable use of natural resources; food safety and agriculture; support for the creation
Read more →Target Group: Public and private entities, including NGOs/CSOs, public bodies, and private organizations that are based and registered in CEI Member States. Aim: To foster European integration and sustainable development throughout the CEI region by means of regional cooperation initiatives. Amount: €100,000 – €252,000 Duration: Up to 18 months Deadline: 9 June 2025, at 23:59 CEST
Read more →Target Group: Cultural and artistic organizations; art collectives and initiatives; civil society organizations engaged in cultural or artistic activities (even if not their primary focus); other legal entities active in the arts and culture (e.g., independent foundations, limited liability companies, or entrepreneurs). Aim: To support the development and implementation of socially relevant contemporary art projects
Read more →Target Group: Local non-governmental organizations (NGOs); community and not-for-profit organizations; local academic institutions involved in local projects; international NGOs engaged in local development activities; intergovernmental, multilateral, and regional institutions focused on local development; municipal, regional, or national government institutions in Kosovo that work on local projects; Canadian NGOs participating in local development activities. Aim: To
Read more →Target Group: Legal entities (organizations, companies, institutions) based in Europe, having at least one year of formal registration and experience in investigative journalism, environmental issues, or journalism support services. Aim: To strengthen environmental investigative journalism by providing funding for training, fellowship programs, or other professional development activities. The grant supports initiatives that help investigative journalists
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