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 But transforming energy systems, especially in central and eastern Europe, requires substantial investment due to outdated infrastructure and reliance on fossil fuels.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
No just transition in sight for gas-distracted Serbian coal communities
Blog entry | 2 December, 2024Serbia’s underground coal mining regions, burdened by pollution and ancient technology, face an uncertain future, as plans to replace coal with fossil gas risk a new lock-in of unsustainable energy and distract authorities from unlocking the region’s untapped potential in agriculture, tourism, and green industries.
Read moreVoices of transition: Shaping the just transition future
Campaign update | 20 November, 2024CEE Bankwatch Network is pleased to invite you to the event ‘Voices of transition: Shaping the just transition future’ on Thursday, 5 December 2024 from 10:00 to 13:00 at the Press Club Brussels.
Read moreNew guidance released for Community-driven Green Deal Actions
Campaign update | 4 November, 2024Collecting experience from 24 local actions across Europe to highlight how communities can help advance European Green Deal objectives, a new guide presents concrete ideas on six different topics.
Read moreRelated publications
Recommendations for the EIB Group: Shaping the 2026–2030 Climate Bank Roadmap
Briefing | 15 July, 2025 | Download PDFThe publication outlines the European Investment Bank’s transformation into the EU’s first public international financial institution to stop funding fossil fuels in both developed EU Member States and developing countries and significantly increasing investments in climate action and environmental sustainability.
Adapting the Just Transition Mechanism to the needs of regions in transition
Toolbox | 11 July, 2025 | Download PDFThis discussion paper synthesises contributions from members of the Just Transition Platform’s ‘Future of Just Transition’ Working Group and other key stakeholders on the potential design of future support for a just transition in Europe.
Letter to the European Commission – EC should maintain a horizontal target for climate and environmental investments in the post-2027 MFF
Letter | 8 July, 2025 | Download PDFWe respectfully call on the Commission to maintain and strengthen a horizontal spending target for climate and the environment in the next EU budget.
