Community energy and energy cooperatives in Estonia are still in the early stages of development, but interest in the field is growing steadily. In recent years, several small cooperatives have been established, with some communities taking the initiative to develop solar and wind energy projects. However, in the county of Ida–Viru, the heart of Estonia’s just transition, there are no fully functioning renewable energy cooperatives to inspire and mobilise local communities.
Romania: Key Black Sea gas pipeline goes on trial
February 27, 2025 | Read more
‘Gas hub’ is Europe’s buzzword du jour, and the Romanian government certainly has high ambitions. With shiny new pipelines and a massive drilling rig in the Black Sea, Bucharest is working hard to capitalise on its neighbours’ fossil gas addiction – and to hell with the EU’s climate commitments. Even due process has been little more than an afterthought. Until this week.
Guidelines for selecting just transition projects in Ukraine
February 20, 2025 | Read more
Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine remains steadfast in its commitment to a just transition. As an EU accession candidate, Ukraine must integrate the Just Transition Mechanism’s principles and criteria into its national policies. Since Ukraine plans to join the EU before its coal phase-out in 2035, the Just Transition Fund regulation provides the most relevant framework for meeting these requirements.
Shale gas extraction, or fracking, is so infamous for its environmental impacts that it is banned in multiple European countries. In Hungary, however, the authorities are looking to expand a fracking project near the border with Romania, despite it already worsening the climate crisis and threatening local agriculture. Campaigners are challenging these risky plans.
Wartime challenges and the European integration process present both obstacles and opportunities for Ukraine. As the country rebuilds, it has the opportunity to adopt EU best practices by embracing democratic values, public participation through the partnership principle, and financial transparency.
Ukrainian civil society is both the main beneficiary and the driving force behind Ukraine’s reconstruction. The Ukraine Facility Regulation invites socio-economic partners and civil society representatives to submit ‘opinions’ to the European Commission on implementation of the Ukraine Plan. However, its influence remains limited.
