October 3, 2024 | Read more
Despite a marked drop in fossil-gas consumption, Slovakia supported district heating systems to run on fossil gas with EUR 55 million from the EU’s Modernisation Fund.
October 2, 2024 | Read more
On 18 September, I and my fellow colleagues from the Latvian-based environmental organisation Green Liberty teamed up with a researcher from Riga Technical University to visit Viļāni, a small town in eastern Latvia. We met with 20 local people to discuss issues with transport poverty.
October 1, 2024 | Read more
A group of 18 civil society organisations has today submitted proposals (1) to overhaul the EU’s Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, in advance of an official update scheduled later this year. They aim to increase the initiative’s focus, transparency and results and ensure more effective use of EU funds for environmental protection.
September 27, 2024 | Read more
WWF and CEE Bankwatch Network question the EU Commission’s reasons for putting this decades-old project on the Danube river on its priority investment list.
September 18, 2024 | Read more
As the new European Commission and Parliament begin their mandates, 42 civil society organisations from across Europe have issued a statement (1) calling on EU leaders to ensure the continuation of the Just Transition Fund in the next EU budget.
September 17, 2024 | Read more
In 2023, Western Balkan governments’ dereliction of their law enforcement duties again allowed an increase in sulphur dioxide (SO2) pollution from the region’s antiquated coal power plants, according to the sixth edition of Bankwatch’s Comply or Close report, published today (1). Dust and nitrogen oxides (NOx) pollution from coal plants also continued to exceed legal limits.
September 12, 2024 | Read more
The European Court of Auditors’ report on implementation of EU’s recovery fund, published yesterday, casts a new shadow over the contribution of the fund to the green transition.
September 5, 2024 | Read more
Romania has hit the EU funds jackpot, securing significant amounts for fossil gas projects. However, implementation has been sluggish. More concerningly, these projects could delay Europe’s energy transition and deepen Romania’s dependence on fossil fuels.
August 29, 2024 | Read more
The EU’s Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) has spent billions of euros on infrastructure, mainly in transport and energy. But our new analysis, examining how countries choose projects to nominate for funding, finds a chaotic situation vulnerable to politically-driven decision-making. Clearer rules, public participation and earlier information disclosure are urgently needed.
August 8, 2024 | Read more
The small town of Turceni in southwest Romania has long been a lignite stronghold. But its enormous coal power plant is gradually being closed. A team from Bankwatch recently visited and spoke to the deputy mayor about the town’s efforts to ensure a just transition.
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