What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

CfA: FRA Consultation on Civil Society Experiences in the EU and Candidate Countries (Deadline: 7 April)

Target group: CSOs working on human rights, trade unions, faith-based actors, academic and social organisations Countries: EU Member States and selected candidate countries Short Description: The EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) is conducting its annual consultation to gather input from civil society organisations working on human rights. Covering experiences throughout 2024, the survey explores conditions

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CfA: Webinar on the New Early Warning and Alerts System for Civic Space (Happening: 10 April)

Target group: CSOs, activists, legal experts, and EU-level stakeholders concerned with civic freedoms Countries: EU Member States Short Description: Civil society across Europe is increasingly under pressure, with shrinking space for protest, association, and expression. In response, nine European organisations have launched the Early Warning and Alerts System as part of the MACS project. This

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CfA: PILnet Global Forum 2025, Rome – Amplifying Impact: Pro Bono & Public Interest Law in a Shifting World (Deadline: 9 May)

Target group: lawyers, in-house counsel, bar associations, representatives of civil society and academia Countries: Global Short Description: A global forum to explore innovative solutions, collaborate, and move the dial on access to justice, discussing how to best use pro bono and public interest lawyering to support nonprofit and civic organizations, and build more just, sustainable

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CfA: European Catalytic Grantmaking Survey 2025 (Deadline: N/A)

Target group: Grantmaking organisations and impact funders in Europe Countries: Europe-wide Short Description: The survey explores the concept of catalytic grantmaking—strategic, non-repayable support to organisations tackling social and environmental challenges that are not yet investment-ready. It aims to highlight the role of such grantmakers in de-risking early-stage solutions, attracting follow-on funding, and advancing the impact

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BCSDN Is Hiring a Communications Officer (Deadline: tomorrow, 16 March)

Looking for a new challenge in communications? BCSDN is hiring a Communications Officer to join our Executive Office in Skopje, North Macedonia. This full-time position is ideal for someone with interest and knowledge about civil society, democracy, and civic space. Candidates should have at least five years of experience in the civil society sector, strong

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European Civil Society Stands in Solidarity with the People of Serbia; EU Reaffirms the Right to Assembly

BCSDN, together with the European Civic Forum, coordinated and joined the call with 130 CSOs from across Europe to demand justice, democracy, and fundamental freedoms for Serbia. Civil society faces escalating attacks, including illegal police raids on NGOs and violent repression of protests after the Novi Sad train station collapse. The government’s response—arrests, intimidation, and

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BCSDN Concerns Over the Adoption of the Foreign Agents Law in Republika Srpska: Deepening Repression on Civil Society

BCSDN condemns the adoption of the “Foreign Agents Law” in the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, which forces non-profits receiving foreign funding to register as “foreign agents,” restricting their activities and undermining independent civil society. Passed without meaningful debate despite widespread opposition, the law expands government control over CSOs, intensifying repression alongside restrictive defamation laws.

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FRA Consultation 2024: Experiences of CSOs Working on Human Rights in the EU and in Selected Candidate countries (Deadline: 7 April)

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) invites CSOs working on human rights in the EU and selected candidate countries to participate in its consultation, assessing the challenges faced by CSOs, their staff, and volunteers, as well as the support and protection they need. The consultation seeks experiences and suggestions on the general situation of

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European Parliament to Establish a Western Balkans Office in Tirana

The European Parliament will open an office in Tirana, Albania to strengthen engagement with the Western Balkans, enhancing ties with national parliaments, civil society, and local partners. The office will promote EU accession efforts, support democracy and institutional reforms, and assist with MEP visits. This move reflects the EU’s commitment to deepening cooperation with candidate

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Serbia: CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist Categorizes Civic Space as “Obstructed” amid Mass Protests and Crackdown on Civil Society

Serbia has been added to the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist for the third time, categorized as “obstructed,” as authorities escalate repression against civil society amid mass protests following the deadly November 2024 collapse of a newly renovated train station in Novi Sad. Public outrage over corruption has fueled mass mobilizations across hundreds of cities, drawing up

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Albania: CSOs Call for EU Support Amid Funding Cuts and Growing Pressure on Civil Society

A group of Albanian CSOs, committed to democratic, social, and economic development, as well as the country’s European integration, including BCSDN member Partners Albania for Change and Development, call on EU institutions, member states, and civil society supporters to address the growing challenges threatening civil society’s essential role. The letter states that the withdrawal of

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