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towards climate-friendly alternatives requires massive investments, especially in central and eastern Europe, where outdated infrastructure and a reliance on fossil fuels persists.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.
Latest news
The solution to Romania’s energy poverty is decentralised, renewable energy
Blog entry | 23 May, 2022Over a third of Romania’s population is affected by energy poverty, but this can change with an integrated approach and targeted support.
Read moreΣυμμετοχή του Κώστα Φιλιππίδη, Πρoέδρου του Ομίλου Ενεργών Νέων Φλώρινας – Europe Direct Δυτικής Μακεδονίας, στο 5ο Just Transition Platform Meeting
Bankwatch in the media | 16 May, 2022Η Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή, η Γενική Διεύθυνση Περιφερειακής και Αστικής Πολιτικής (DG REGIO) και η Γενική Διεύθυνση Ενέργειας (DG ENER), …
Read moreSlovakia is slowly transitioning to a greener future
Bankwatch in the media | 10 May, 2022Decarbonizing Europe – Missed targets and lack of programming, Slovakia is transitioning to a more sustainable future at a slow pace. …
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Status of the Territorial Just Transition Plans in central and eastern Europe: December 2021 update – Annex: Slovakia.
Briefing | 10 March, 2022 | Download PDFThis annex to the December 2021 update on the status of the Territorial Just Transition Plans in central and eastern Europe provides additional data for Slovakia.
Applying the ‘do no significant harm’ principle in practice: examples of reforms and investments under national recovery plans that will cause harm to the environment
Advocacy letter | 8 March, 2022 | Download PDFThis joint letter, prepared by CEE Bankwatch Network, EuroNatur, WWF and ReCommon, raises concern about the application of the EU’s ‘do no significant harm’ principle under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The letter is accompanied by a seri
Reaching for a green recovery: what holds back progress in ten EU recovery and resilience plans
Report | 3 February, 2022 | Download PDFThe Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is intended to finance reforms and investments in Member States to rebound from the pandemic and pursue a green transition.
