In January, Bankwatch, in partnership with Friends of the Earth Europe, published its widely circulated report – ‘Climate’s Enfants Terribles’ – highlighting how the mismanagement of EU funds by some of the newer Member States was hindering the EU’s clean energy transition. 

In March, the EU adopted the Circular Economy Action Plan, aiming to promote the reuse, repair, and recycling of materials across all sectors as part of its shift toward a more sustainable economic model. 

In April, Croatia’s Minister of Economy confirmed that the planned Plomin C coal power plant would not proceed. The project, previously expected to receive financing from institutions including Crédit Agricole, was abandoned amid growing opposition and financing uncertainty. 

And to round off the year, in November, we published another two major publications: a report co-authored with Counter Balance – ‘Going abroad: A critique of the European Investment Bank’s external lending mandate’ – examining the development impacts and accountability gaps in the EIB’s operations outside the EU; and the ‘Great Coal Jobs Fraud’ report, exposing how coal projects across south-eastern Europe were being justified with inflated or unrealistic employment figures.