North Macedonia’s Go-Slow on Greener Energy is Costing Lives
April 6, 2022
The REK Bitola mining and energy complex in North Macedonia is one of Europe’s most lethal polluters – but, despite local protests, and clear evidence of its harm, the authorities have yet to act.
Air pollution and associated health impacts in Novaci, North Macedonia
April 6, 2022
For the last forty years, the municipality of Novaci has been home to North Macedonia’s REK Bitola complex, which consists of a 675 MW lignite power plant, open-cast mines and ash disposal sites. Its inhabitants have been breathing pollution emitted at
The EU must promote sustainable energy – not gas dependence – in the Western Balkans
April 5, 2022
This joint letter to President von der Leyen by 36 civil society organisations working in the region therefore asks the European Commission to stop promoting fossil gas and instead to pay attention to much-needed but currently neglected initiatives on energy efficiency and sustainable forms of renewable energy.
Activists call on EU to stop promoting fossil gas dependence in the Western Balkans
April 5, 2022
36 civil society organisations have today sent a joint letter to the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, calling on the EU to stop promoting the use of fossil gas in the Western Balkans.
Bulgaria’s energy transition without Russian fossil gas and new nuclear capacity
April 4, 2022
It’s never been clearer that Bulgaria’s dependence on Russian energy needs to be cut right now.
Efficient district heating in CEE-countries
March 28, 2022
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has revealed Europe’s dependency on fossil fuels. The European Commission recently presented a Communication called Repower EU with the aim to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels well before 2030, starting with fossil gas. Energy efficiency measures that bring energy savings, like switching from inefficient to more efficient district heating networks that are based on exclusively renewable energy, are part of the solution and can structurally help solve EU dependency from energy imports.
Bosnia and Herzegovina illegally extends lifetimes of deadly coal plants
March 25, 2022
Yesterday the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Parliament voted to extend the lifetime of the antiquated Tuzla 4 and Kakanj 5 coal units, in clear breach of the Energy Community Treaty. The move condemns the public to yet more lethal air pollution.
Flagships or red flags? Risks of proposed flagship infrastructure projects under the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans
March 24, 2022
Under the European Commission’s October 2020 Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA) is set to provide grants worth EUR 9 billion, with up to EUR 20 billion more in investments leveraged through the Western Balkans Guarantee Facility. Western Balkan governments have proposed projects for financing in ten Flagship areas for investment. The list of these proposed projects contains many which appear reasonable and much-needed, but many others are not in line with EU policy and/or legislation and must not be funded with EU money. This briefing provides an overview of selected projects that have been nominated by governments but which are not in line with EU policy and/or legislation.
Ekolozi smatraju da je plan grijanja Pljevalja rađen potpuno pogrešno
February 18, 2022
Ines Mrdović iz Akcije za socijalnu pravdu ističe da su Pljevlja u proteklih nekoliko decenija stvorila potpunu ekonomsku zavisnost od …
Toplifikacija Pljevalja na ugalj odlaže razvoj sistema daljinskog grijanja na obnovljivim izvorima energije
February 17, 2022
CEE Bankwatch net i Akcija za socijalnu pravdu su danas upozorili da državni plan toplifikacije Pljevalja, baziran na uglju kao energentu, …
