A budget aware of the challenges, yet falling short on solutions for a resilient future
July 16, 2025
Despite bold rhetoric on climate and environmental leadership, the European Commission’s proposal for the next long-term EU budget, published today, falls short of aligning future EU spending with the needs of a climate-neutral EU. It fails to provide a clear, enforceable vision for beneficiaries of EU funds to tackle today’s multiple challenges by directing public funds towards building a more resilient, just, and environmentally sustainable economy.
National energy and climate plans: catalysts for the energy transition or box-ticking exercises?
June 30, 2023
The following report shows how seven central and eastern European (CEE) countries are approaching the NECP revision and details how the context has changed since the initial NECPs were prepared in 2018 and 2019.
‘Money talk op COP27: van overheden tot banken, de strijd om geldstromen te verleggen, woedt volop’
November 9, 2022
Yelter Bollen van Bond Beter Leefmilieu (BBL) staat stil bij de meest gespannen gesprekken op de klimaattop in Egypte, die over geld voor …
COP27 | România are obiective ambițioase pentru limitarea încălzirii globale. Ministerul Mediului: Suntem într-un club select
November 6, 2022
… „Atingerea țintelor, chiar dacă sunt stabilite și la nivel național, nu se pot realiza individual”, spune ministrul Mediului, Barna Tánczos …
New EU subsidies rules too lax to rule out support for damaging energy projects
January 13, 2022
This month, the new State aid Guidelines for climate, environmental protection and energy 2022 enter force. But with a surplus of loose formulations and flexible criteria, only with close public scrutiny can they support sustainable decarbonisation.
Why the climate blame game is causing a stink in southeast Europe
September 28, 2021
The tall smokestacks of factories oozing thick clouds of dark smoke are omnipresent in the landscapes of central, southern and eastern …
EU’s ‘climate bank’ under fire over proposed green framework
August 10, 2021
Source: EU’s ‘climate bank’ under fire over proposed green framework
Too soon to call the “Juncker Plan” a success – new report
October 1, 2019
The EU’s next major investment scheme, succeeding the so-called Juncker Plan, is likely to be central to the ‘European Green Deal’ touted by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. But a report released today by watchdog NGOs Counter Balance and CEE Bankwatch Network finds the Juncker Plan has so far shown weaknesses in its transparency, sustainability, geographical concentration and additionality, and calls for improvements for its post-2020 phase.
European Parliament calls for future EU budget to support the energy transformation in regions that need it most
February 22, 2018
Prague, Brussels – Today NGOs across central and eastern Europe welcome a report from Members of the European Parliament’s BUDGET Committee [1], laying out the priorities for the next EU budget after 2020 – the ‘Multiannual Financial Framework’ (MFF).
Key decision made that could rewrite EU energy policy
February 7, 2018
The European Investment Bank (EIB) on Tuesday approved its largest ever single loan to an energy project: the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). The 1.5 Source: Key decision made that could rewrite EU energy policy
