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towards climate-friendly alternatives requires massive investments, especially in central and eastern Europe, where outdated infrastructure and a reliance on fossil fuels persists.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.
Latest news
Co z tymi funduszami z UE? FEnIKS jest kluczowy dla zielonej transformacji, ale trzeba go poprawić
Bankwatch in the media | 15 December, 2022Kulminacją sporu polskiego rządu z Komisją Europejską o praworządność stały się niedawne zapowiedzi unijnych urzędników o zablokowaniu …
Read moreCum vor fi direcționate cele 1,39 miliarde euro suplimentare pentru România din pachetul RePowerEU/ Ministerul Energiei: Vor fi alocate pentru producția din surse regenerabile/Este luată în calcul și hidroenergia
Bankwatch in the media | 9 December, 2022Prin pachetul de finanțare RepowerEU România urmează să primească aproape SDi1,4 miliarde euro, fonduri nerambursabile, pentru a-și …
Read moreRomanian decision-makers attempt misuse of REPowerEU funds for illegal hydropower plants
Press release | 30 November, 2022Romania’s Government plans to use funds allocated under the REPowerEU package to build nine hydropower projects in protected natural areas, Bankwatch Romania has warned the European Commission today.
Read moreRelated publications
Public financing opportunities for energy communities in Europe
Briefing | 13 March, 2023 | Download PDFThis briefing, developed by REScoop.eu, CEE Bankwatch Network and CAN Europe, is a preview of an upcoming, in-depth analysis of the allocation of dedicated funding for community energy through various public financing programmes in 14 countries.
The second and third pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism
Briefing | 13 March, 2023 | Download PDFThe Just Transition Mechanism will provide funding to countries and regions expected to be particularly negatively affected by the transition away from fossil fuels as part of the European Green Deal. The Just Transition Mechanism consists of three sep
Position paper for EU Member States on applying Council Regulation (EU) 2022/2577 to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy
Position paper | 27 February, 2023 | Download PDFCouncil Regulation (EU) 2022/2577 of 22 December 2022 rightly aims to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy. But although it contains some useful provisions, it raises serious concerns about the legal basis used for its adoption, the extent to
