Europe has ambitions to become the first climate–neutral continent. But transforming energy systems, especially in central and eastern Europe, requires substantial investment due to outdated infrastructure and reliance on fossil fuels.
While the EU budget currently funds this transition, the key challenge is to ensure impactful, high-quality investments that are both environmentally and socially just.
Involving citizens in investment decisions leads to better outcomes, including greater acceptance, a stronger sense of ownership, and fewer harmful projects.
Bankwatch works to align EU financial flows with the European Green Deal objectives, ensuring they meet the needs of people and the planet.
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
Bern Convention: Skavica dam in Albania contradicts the Balkan Lynx Recovery Programme
Blog entry | 24 April, 2024The Bureau of the Convention recently accepted a new complaint and urged the Albanian authorities to not develop projects which may negatively affect habitats and species.
Read morePlaylist: Local actions for a SHARED GREEN DEAL
Campaign update | 24 April, 2024Join us for a journey across Europe and into six different streams of the European Green Deal in the Local actions for a SHARED GREEN DEAL Webinar Series.
Read moreArt as a balm in the just transition: Inspiration from Poland and Romania
Blog entry | 22 March, 2024For the just transition to be successful, it is crucial to involve as many stakeholders as possible in the planning and implementation of the process. The coal regions of Jiu Valley in Romania and Eastern Wielkopolska in Poland are inspiring examples of this collaborative approach. Thanks to strong partnerships between local public authorities and civil society, both regions are now on the right track for a sustainable future beyond coal.
Read moreRelated publications
Towards a just transition in the national and regional partnership plans: Recommendations on regional chapters
Briefing | 12 June, 2026 | Download PDFIn the context of Europe reshaping its cohesion policy, this briefing explains why regional chapters in the post‑2028 funding framework must be mandatory, properly financed, and built on credible just transition plans. Without guaranteed regional ownership, targeted support, and strong technical capacity, the shift to a climate‑neutral economy risks deepening territorial divides, sidelining carbon‑intensive and peripheral regions, and slowing Europe’s competitiveness at a moment when no region can afford to fall behind.
Unlocking nature financing: National cost estimates for effective nature restoration
Report | 11 June, 2026 | Download PDFTo support national planning, CEE Bankwatch Network and EuroNatur, in cooperation with national partners, led a study in five Member States – Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Hungary and Croatia – to estimate financing needs for effective nature restoration.
Mixed signals from the European Commission: Undermining housing affordability and the energy transition in central and eastern Europe
Briefing | 29 May, 2026 | Download PDFThis briefing highlights the potential impacts of two recent EU policy developments and also presents several successful examples from central and eastern Europe.
