Europe has ambitions to become a global leader in the fight against climate breakdown. Transforming the continent’s energy systems and shifting towards climate-friendly alternatives requires massive investments, especially in central and eastern Europe, where outdated infrastructure and a reliance on fossil fuels persists.
The good news is that the EU has the financial means to fund this transformation. The challenge is ensuring that the investments of today are geared towards addressing the climate crisis and Europe’s declining state of nature.
We know that when people have a voice in investment decisions, the results speak for themselves: more acceptance and ownership of spending and a greater chance that harmful and wasteful projects are avoided.
We work to ensure that EU financial flows address the climate crisis and do no harm to people and nature. We do this by involving the public in the design and spending of EU investments.
IN FOCUS
Just transition
Countries across central and eastern Europe are committing to quit coal and shale oil. Now the task is to ensure that the just transition is driven from the bottom up and leaves no one behind as we move towards a sustainable energy future.
Building back biodiversity
Threats facing biodiversity are increasing alongside the drivers of the climate crisis. But investments in climate protection should not come at the expense of those that can help biodiversity. The two crises of climate and biodiversity are interconnected and both must be tackled together, because only by investing in nature can we tackle climate change.
RegENERate: Mobilising Regions for Energetic Re-development and Transformative NECPs
The overall objective of the project is to support the CEE countries’ contribution to the EU efforts towards a net-zero emissions future. The project will contribute to more ambitious and effective climate and energy policies in CEE, backed by a long-term commitment to phase out fossil fuels, improve energy efficiency and promote renewable energy.
RePower the Regions: Ambitious and inclusive clean energy plans for repowering the just transition regions
The participation and leadership of carbon-intensive regions in transitioning to clean energy solutions are prerequisites for achieving EU climate neutrality by 2050. Building on this premise, RePower the Regions aims to ensure that the regions’ clean energy plans are aligned with EU 2030 climate goals and have strong support locally, and to provide practical guidelines and roadmaps on how to repower the regions.
Latest news
Let the sunshine in: how a coal region in North Macedonia can switch to sustainable heating
Blog entry | 21 December, 2022The government in North Macedonia wants to link the 40 year old REK Bitola power plant to the regional heating system. But cementing the dependence on fossil fuels would be reckless. Instead, a new study finds that fitting houses in Bitola with air conditioning and solar panels could keep people warm, cut air pollution and even shield against increasingly volatile energy prices. Such households forming energy communities, the study shows, could not only lower initial investments but even generate them some income.
Read morePublic participation at stake in participatory processes in the EU
Blog entry | 16 December, 2022The end of 2022 coincides with the conclusion of the preparation of the 2021-2027 cohesion policy. Soon, the European Commission will approve the last partnership agreements and operational programmes outlining the investment priorities and specific objectives for the following years. At the same time, there are other important processes to follow at the European and national levels.
Read moreREPowerEU is a chance to prioritise renovating buildings in Latvia
Blog entry | 30 November, 2022Energy consumed in the residential sector accounts for up to 30 per cent of Latvia’s energy usage. Approximately 23,000 multi-apartment buildings need to be renovated, but only 1,600 buildings have been insulated since 2009, a renovation rate of 0.5 per year. Will Latvia seize the chance and use REPowerEU chapters for renovation?
Read moreRelated publications
RePowering the regions: A comparative analysis of decarbonisation strategies in nine central and eastern European countries
Analysis | 18 December, 2024 | Download PDFThis comparative analysis of decarbonisation strategies in nine central and eastern European countries aims to enhance knowledge of decarbonisation pathways.
Keeping the promise: Why the Just Transition Fund must be maintained in the next EU budget
Joint statement | 18 September, 2024 | Download PDFThis joint statement lays out why the Just Transition Fund should be extended into the next EU budget, and offers recommendations to guide further improvements within the next programming period to deliver results that contribute to both EU cohesion and climate neutrality.
Mission letter: How climate and environmental crises should be prioritised as part of the European Union’s long-term budget for 2028-2034
Letter | 9 September, 2024 | Download PDFThis is a fictional mission letter issued by the President of the European Commission to a fictional ‘Commissioner for a Transformative Budget’ intended to illustrate how the climate and environmental crises should be prioritised as part of the European Union’s long-term budget for 2028–2034.
