Vulnerable households at risk: Central and eastern European countries struggle to finalise national social climate plans
June 13, 2025
With just weeks to go before the European Commission’s deadline for national social climate plan submissions, a new analysis by E3G and Bankwatch reveals alarmingly uneven progress across central and eastern Europe. Examining the state of play in eight EU Member States, the report highlights persistent transparency gaps, weak stakeholder engagement, and protracted delays.
Climbing together: Is the Social Climate Fund working for those who need it most?
June 13, 2025
This report evaluates the quality of stakeholder involvement and the design of national social climate plans in Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.
Bulgaria’s opportunity to address energy and transport poverty: The Social Climate Fund challenge
June 4, 2025
The European Union’s Social Climate Fund presents Bulgaria – one of the EU’s poorest Member States – with a significant opportunity to tackle energy and transport poverty. Under this funding instrument, the country has been allocated a total of EUR 2.5 billion for the 2026–2032 period. However, concerns are mounting that weak planning, institutional resistance to reform, and a lack of transparency could prevent this funding from reaching the people who need it most.
CEE Bankwatch Network’s consultation response on the Connecting Europe Facility – Energy funding
June 3, 2025
The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is meant to implement infrastructure projects which aim to strengthen trans-European energy, transport and digital networks.
Latvia’s cohesion policy at a crossroads: Balancing security priorities and green investments
May 14, 2025
Latvia is rethinking how it allocates its EU cohesion policy funds, as growing security concerns linked to the regional geopolitical climate put pressure on previously agreed green investment priorities. But will this shift towards national defence undermine the country’s long-term environmental and climate goals?
Encouraging local input: Łódzkie voivodeship takes a more inclusive approach to just transition planning
May 13, 2025
Non-governmental organisations in Poland’s post-coal regions face several unique challenges. The specific socio-economic conditions prevalent in these areas often impede the growth of a fully professionalised and well-organised environment that allows civil society to thrive. Yet, despite these challenges, signs of progressive change are emerging.
On the Mid-Term Review Proposal for Amendments in the ERDF, CF and JTF regulations
May 9, 2025
This letter includes comments on the changes in the European Regional Development Fund, Cohesion Fund and Just Transition Fund regulations related to the mid-term review
Letter to EC President Von der Leyen calling to uphold climate, nature and public health priorities in the next EU budget
May 8, 2025
Letter to EC President Von der Leyen calling to uphold climate, nature and public health priorities in the next EU budget.
Shaping a European budget fit for climate action and a just transition
May 6, 2025
This policy brief explores five key elements for an EU budget that promotes sustainability, social cohesion and transparent governance.
Proposals for the next EU budget
April 24, 2025
Our current crises stem from the environmental and social injustices of past decades. It is therefore essential that we learn from current EU budget instruments to create a coherent, strategic, enforceable and accessible framework for the next EU budget.
