News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and key opposition figures has sparked one of the largest protest waves in Turkey in recent years, marking a dangerous turn toward authoritarianism. The move, seen as an attempt by President Erdoğan to eliminate his strongest rival ahead of the 2028 elections, involved politicised judicial action and media
Read more →At the high-level conference “EU Enlargement and Societal Transformation in the Western Balkans: Civil Society and Youth Engagement for Democratic Resilience” hosted by the College of Europe on 13 March in Tirana, BCSDN Executive Director Biljana Spasovska joined a panel alongside Commissioner Marta Kos and other key speakers to discuss the role of civil society
Read more →The Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties) has released its sixth annual Rule of Law Report, providing a civil society-led shadow assessment of developments in the EU during 2024. Covering 21 countries and drawing on over 40 local partner contributions, the report highlights persistent structural deficiencies, including politicised justice systems, corruption, media interference, and shrinking
Read more →A recent study by the Belgrade Center for Security Policies explores the protection mechanisms available to human rights defenders in six countries: Colombia, Mexico, DR Congo, the Philippines, Turkey, and Serbia. Despite the existence of legal and institutional tools at international and national levels, the study finds that defenders remain exposed to serious threats, including
Read more →The Council of Europe’s Safety of Journalists Platform has published its 2024 report, raising the alarm over Serbia’s persistent culture of impunity in attacks against journalists. The report documents a year-long campaign of threats against Dinko Gruhonjić, a journalist and media studies professor, highlighting 15 incidents including death threats, harassment, and institutional pressure—all without legal
Read more →In an interview for CIVICUS Lens, Taulant Hoxha, Executive Director of the Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (KCSF), reflects on the critical role of civil society in Kosovo following the February 2025 elections. With Vetëvendosje! winning the most seats but falling short of a majority, Kosovo now faces a period of fragile coalition negotiations and rising
Read more →Civil Society Europe has published a policy paper titled EU Civil Dialogue: The Foundations of an Institutional Framework, calling for the establishment of a permanent and structured civil dialogue mechanism at the EU level. The paper notes that although Article 11.2 of the Treaty on European Union requires EU institutions to maintain an open, transparent,
Read more →The Trump administration is advancing a sweeping plan to restructure U.S. foreign aid, according to a leaked internal memo obtained by Reuters. The proposal envisions dismantling much of USAID and creating a narrower, rebranded agency—the U.S. Agency for International Humanitarian Assistance—focused solely on disaster relief, global health, and food security. Key programs related to democracy
Read more →A growing number of philanthropic organisations are experimenting with artificial intelligence, yet equity remains largely absent from the dominant AI conversation. Findings from the Technology Association of Grantmakers and the UK’s Association of Charitable Foundations show interest in AI across the sector, but only a small fraction have developed policies or integrated the technology organisation-wide.
Read more →Target group: Legally registered, non-profit organisations placing creativity at the core of their social transformation work. Aim: To support small and grassroots organisations working with disadvantaged and marginalised communities—especially youth aged 16–27—by providing unrestricted support to strengthen their operations and impact. Amount: €5,000 in unrestricted funding, with opportunities for further collaboration, mentoring, networking, and learning
Read more →Target group: CSOs, local and regional authorities, research institutions, and public universities from EU Member States and eligible non-EU countries. Aim: To support projects fostering civic engagement and democratic participation, including exchanges on EU policy priorities, countering disinformation, and promoting citizen involvement in decision-making. Amount: 33 million EUR total budget; minimum grant amount 75 000 EUR.
Read more →Target group: CSOs from Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia) registered at least 12 months prior to the deadline. Aim: To support CSO-led projects that promote the equality and inclusion of LGBTIQ persons in all areas of public and private life. Focus includes advocacy, awareness-raising, alliance-building, and strategic litigation
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