This Guide provides information for grant beneficiaries of EU funds in the Western Balkans and Türkiye on how to exempt them from paying VAT. The document includes information about the procedures for registering for VAT exemption and obtaining VAT exemptions (or refunds) when making purchases. This guide has been prepared by the EU TACSO 3 team as a ready reference to VAT exemption and VAT refund requirements for civil society organisations funded by the European Union in the Western Balkans and Türkiye. It is aimed primarily at civil society organisations in the region that are recipients of EU grant funds, either country-level or regional. The guide is compiled from available documentation and guidance and will be updated regularly if there are changes.
View moreThe report presents the second assessment against the revised DG NEAR Guidelines for EU Support to Civil Society in the Enlargement Region, 2021-2027. The Guidelines outline the results towards which EU support to civil society in the enlargement region aspires during this seven-year period. This assessment provides evidence for the situation against the Guidelines’ indicators for 2023, presenting the situation in the region, namely in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo,* Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye.
View moreA comprehensive report from the Workshop on Assessment of Proposals for FSTP Implementers from the Western Balkans and Türkiye provides details from the workshop, including Q&As, case studies, some key issues raised by participants and expert's responses and recommendations provided.
View moreThe workshop succeeded in gathering 27 representatives of CSO governing body members from the Western Balkans and Türkiye region to discuss the current findings on CSO governance in the region, network, and propose inputs for designing the ad-hoc research on CSO governance practices in the WBT.
View moreOnline Regional Workshop for FSTP Implementors “EU Visibility and Communication Requirements” 28 March 2024 The Regional Workshop for FSTP Implementors on the new visibility and communication requirements has been implemented for 34 participants representing CSOs and CSO networks implementing CSF projects with FSTP components in the Western Balkans and Türkiye region.
View moreMany questions are often repeated among those interested in becoming FSTP implementors and those already implementing projects with included FSTP components. The European Commission combined those most repeated questions into one guiding document and published the frequently asked questions on FSTP.
View moreThe central objective of the event was to foster collaboration among stakeholders in the non-profit sector, education, and government, spanning regions from the EU and the local area. The main objectives included promoting cooperation and collaboration across various actors, countries, and regions, identifying opportunities to formalise the recognition of non-profit skills within National Qualifications Frameworks.
View moreThe overarching objective was to facilitate knowledge transfer among CSOs from Albania and North Macedonia, allowing them to glean insights from the best practices employed by their counterparts in Montenegro and Serbia during the EU accession negotiation process. The specific aims included fostering an understanding of diverse models and structures for civil society engagement in accession negotiations, familiarizing participants with effective approaches and practices in collaboration with governments during these negotiations and equipping them with applicable insights for their unique situations.
View moreThe one-and-a-half-day P2P event featured expert panel discussions, presentations, and interactive sessions. The event had a specific focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration in CSOs’ operations. Participants engaged in discussions and sessions aimed at understanding the potential benefits and challenges associated with AI integration, to develop strategies to harness its power responsibly.
View moreThis meeting's specific objectives were finely tuned to inspect the utilisation of digital platforms for information sharing within CSOs. This involved a comprehensive analysis of how CSOs leverage platforms such as websites, social media, and online collaboration tools for information dissemination, evaluating the effectiveness of these platforms in reaching and engaging target audiences and identifying best practices and innovative approaches.
View moreThe primary objective of the event was to promote volunteering as a catalyst for social and economic development in the Western Balkans and Türkiye, while addressing challenges related to recognition, support, and sustainability. Specific goals included delving into the reasons behind the low volunteering rates in these regions, identifying strategies for promoting volunteering at various levels, examining the legal framework for volunteering, and showcasing successful volunteer initiatives.
View moreThe online consultative meeting aimed to comprehensively explore the repercussions of the digital transition on CSOs and formulate adaptive strategies for the evolving landscape in the region. Additionally, the meeting sought to identify key changes in the operating environment induced by digital transformation, analyzing its effects on relationships between CSOs, governments, donors, and other stakeholders. The examination extended to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and its effects on CSOs, covering applications, impacts on efficiency, ethical considerations, and potential risks.
View moreThis report presents the first assessment against the revised DG NEAR Guidelines for EU Support to Civil Society in the Enlargement Region, 2021-2027. The Guidelines outline the results towards which EU support to civil society in the enlargement region will aspire in this seven-year period. This assessment provides evidence for the situation against the Guidelines’ indicators for 2021 which is the baseline year.
View moreThe regional FSTP Community of Practice succeeded in gathering for the third time in the live form of the annual meeting. The meeting was held in Skopje, North Macedonia, on 6 – 7 November 2024. Fifty representatives of FSTP implementors, including several recipients of the sub-granting support, discussed the current practices, focusing on the organisational changes at the level of FSTP implementors and the effects visible due to the provision of small grants support to CSOs in the Western Balkans and Türkiye region.
View moreThe workshop was organised for 20 representatives of the CSOs from the WBT region working on social inclusion and supporting women, youth, children, Roma, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in our society. The workshop agenda included an overview of key green transition developments in the EU and the WBT region, the main actors involved and decision-makers. Case studies from the recent CSO practice and funding opportunities have also been shared.
View moreAn online workshop on promoting the environment and how youth CSOs can contribute to environmental protection and green transition in the WBT was held on 27 August 2024 for 20 participants, including representatives of the EU Delegations from the region. Here are the presentation materials from the workshop.
View moreThis two-day workshop was conducted online for Western Balkans and Türkiye participants working to incorporate a gender mainstreaming approach into their FSTP practices. The participants worked on practical tasks to analyse how to ensure gender equality at the organisational, project, individual, and community levels. They were introduced to the gender analysis matrix at the project level and were practising developing gender-sensitive indicators.
View moreThe manual on grantmaking, published in Croatian, describes the grant-making process with practical examples, instructions, and a sample of forms.
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