In 2015, against the backdrop of the landmark Paris Agreement and a significant migration crisis stemming from the wars in Syria and Iraq, linked by many to factors including climate change, Bankwatch actively campaigned across south-eastern Europe, successfully stopping or stalling investments in coal in Romania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia. 

At the EU level, we pushed for and achieved the greening of the European Fund for Strategic Investments, highlighting the minimal investment in renewables and energy efficiency by central and eastern European governments using EU funds. 

We also held a first fact-finding mission to Ukrainian communities impacted by mini hydropower plants, as documented in our ‘Black Earth’ report, and continued to support movements against large dams. 

Our sustained efforts to reverse the impact of polluting coal power and promote cleaner energy in the Balkans yielded important victories in Romania and Serbia.