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 But transforming energy systems, especially in central and eastern Europe, requires substantial investment due to outdated infrastructure and reliance on fossil fuels.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
EU Reform and Growth Facility not yet speeding up energy transition in Western Balkans – new report
Press release | 5 December, 2025Two years after it was announced, the European Union’s Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans is struggling to deliver on its goals, according to a new analysis by CEE Bankwatch Network (1). The report reveals that a significant proportion of planned energy-related reforms are delayed and raises serious concerns about the suitability of performance-based models for the bulk of future EU funding in the region.
Read moreWhy the EU budget needs a democratic reset – a Czech civil society perspective
Blog entry | 25 July, 2025As the European Union begins shaping its post-2027 budget – the next multiannual financial framework – the challenges ahead are significant. From accelerating climate change to geopolitical tensions and conflicts, the EU needs a budget that is both responsive and forward-looking. Yet, despite the far-reaching impact these decisions will have on millions of Europeans, the process by which they are made still falls short of being truly democratic.
Read moreA budget aware of the challenges, yet falling short on solutions for a resilient future
Press release | 16 July, 2025Despite bold rhetoric on climate and environmental leadership, the European Commission’s proposal for the next long-term EU budget, published today, falls short of aligning future EU spending with the needs of a climate-neutral EU. It fails to provide a clear, enforceable vision for beneficiaries of EU funds to tackle today’s multiple challenges by directing public funds towards building a more resilient, just, and environmentally sustainable economy.
Read moreRelated publications
The state of youth engagement in the implementation of the EU Just Transition Mechanism
Report | 6 May, 2022 | Download PDFThis report provides an overview of the political youth engagement activities for the development of Territorial Just Transition Plans of twelve EU Member States.
Energy communities: A brief explainer for managing authorities in central and eastern Europe
Briefing | 4 May, 2022 | Download PDFThis briefing from Bankwatch and REScoop.eu explains the concept of energy communities and their wide range of benefits. It gives an insight into how their development can be supported at the national and local levels and why Member States should make use of the variety of EU funding streams to support energy communities. It also highlights EU legal definitions and suggests concrete recommendations on how to support them and overcome existing challenges.
Just transition project implementation checklist
Checklist | 29 April, 2022 | Download PDFThe paper outlines what comes next after the preparation of the Territorial Just Transition Plans and their final approval by the European Commission. It takes a look not only at the actual planning and spending of the funds provided in accordance with the approved Plans, but also at the challenges faced by the regions and the level to which they are prepared to address them. The checklist provides an easy-to-use overview of what each region should have in place in order to make sure it reaches its professed goals along with a discussion of each issue, relevant examples and references to more detailed reports, documents or regulations concerning particular points.
