Comply or Close: Eight years of deadly legal breaches by Western Balkan coal plants
June 23, 2026
This report exposes the systematic, deadly breaches of air pollution limits by coal-fired power plants in the Western Balkans – eight years after new pollution standards entered force.
Western Balkan governments must finally penalise illegal coal pollution – new report
June 22, 2026
In 2025, systematic law enforcement failures allowed sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions from the Western Balkans’ ageing coal power plants to exceed legal limits by 6.6 times, according to the eighth edition of Bankwatch’s Comply or Close report, published today (1). Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions also continued to breach legal limits, while dust pollution increased, reaching the highest level since the current rules entered force in 2018.
Boom and Bust Coal 2026
May 21, 2026
Boom and Bust Coal is an annual survey of the global coal fleet by Global Energy Monitor and partners.
Ahead of Dubrovnik 3SI Summit, 47 civil society organisations warn against Western Balkan gas addiction
April 27, 2026
47 civil society organisations have today called on Western Balkan governments to resist pressure from the United States and cancel plans to build new gas pipelines and power plants.
Joint civil society statement: As the latest fossil fuel crisis starts to bite, Western Balkan governments must avoid further gas addiction and leapfrog to a renewable future!
April 27, 2026
For the second time this decade, Europe is in an oil and gas crisis, once again highlighting the danger of dependence on imported fossil fuels. The diversification strategy promoted by the EU for decades has shown its limits, and the inherent vulnerabi
CBAM: Western Balkan governments must act now to avoid ‘perfect storm’ – new report
October 30, 2025
The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) takes full effect from 1 January 2026. But Western Balkan governments’ lack of preparation increases the risk of a calamitous and unjust energy transition, finds a new report published today by CEE Bankwatch Network (1).
Comply or Close 2025: Seven years of deadly legal breaches by Western Balkan coal plants
June 17, 2025
The end of 2024 marked seven years since the deadline passed for power plants in the Western Balkans to meet new air pollution standards.
Proposal for just transition in Western Balkans for next Multiannual Financial Framework
May 2, 2025
With the financing for just transition on the EU level under threat, the ambition for moving forward with just transition on the local level in the Western Balkans is rapidly decreasing because the EU is not prioritising the process. To revive ambition
Western Balkan governments are willing accomplices in Azerbaijan’s abuse of COP29. Will the EU act to defend climate integrity?
November 22, 2024
This year’s COP29 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku never looked like a serious attempt to tackle the global climate emergency. After all, its hosts plan to increase oil and gas production by a third over the next decade – hardly a sign of climate leadership.
Western Balkans: Civil society groups call on European Commission to strengthen support for just transition
October 4, 2024
A group of civil society organisations, including CEE Bankwatch Network, are calling on the European Commission and other actors to step up support for a just transition in coal-dependent communities in the Western Balkans.
