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 But transforming energy systems, especially in central and eastern Europe, requires substantial investment due to outdated infrastructure and reliance on fossil fuels.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
Estfeed Datahub: Powering Estonia’s digital energy future
Blog entry | 10 July, 2025As our energy systems shift towards decentralisation and renewable energy sources, it’s becoming increasingly important for energy markets to be open, understandable, and accessible to everyone, including large companies, local communities, and individuals. Transparency and easy access to energy data play a key role in this transition. In Estonia, the Estonian Green Movement is working to raise public awareness and capacity around this topic.
Read moreThe threat to the EU’s LIFE programme in the next budget
Bankwatch in the media | 26 June, 2025The EU’s new priorities are at a major crossroads. The once cutting-edge European Green Deal is now ditched in favour of defence, security and competitiveness. These discussions are taking place against the backdrop of the much-anticipated future EU budget, the financial resource responsible for driving forward the EU’s goals.
Read moreElectrification of Riga’s heat supply brings balance to national grid
Blog entry | 24 June, 2025Riga’s main heat supplier, RĪGAS SILTUMS, is taking steps to transform the city’s heat supply. Having recently implemented a major electrification project, the company is now exploring options to introduce a pioneering heat storage solution for the Latvian capital.
Read moreRelated publications
The transformation action plan for the Slovakia’s Upper Nitra coal region
Study | 24 September, 2019 | Download PDFThe aim of this study is to describe the process by which local communities participated in the Transformation Action Plan of Coal Region Upper Nitra and to propose concrete steps towards the better integration of the local communities in order to achi
Seven Golden Rules for open and inclusive just transition planning at the regional level
Briefing | 15 July, 2019 | Download PDFEvery region and every community is different. As EU countries wake up to the climate emergency and the need for a swift transition to a sustainable and carbon-neutral society, it is becoming increasingly clear that we need regional and community-level
Retrained and forgotten
Study | 16 April, 2019 | Download PDFThis research analyses the context of downsizing the ining sector in the Jiu Valley, the concrete measures taken to mitigate the social impact in the areas hit by restructuring the mining sector and how successful these measures were.
