Art as a balm in the just transition: Inspiration from Poland and Romania
March 22, 2024
For the just transition to be successful, it is crucial to involve as many stakeholders as possible in the planning and implementation of the process. The coal regions of Jiu Valley in Romania and Eastern Wielkopolska in Poland are inspiring examples of this collaborative approach. Thanks to strong partnerships between local public authorities and civil society, both regions are now on the right track for a sustainable future beyond coal.
Soft landing: New high-level EIB ‘revolving door’ revelations suggest systemic issue persists
March 1, 2024
Alarming new Politico report uncovers ‘revolving doors’ in the EIB’s highest echelons linked to the controversial expansion of the Budapest airport.
EU anti-fraud office probes €200M loan to Budapest Airport
February 29, 2024
Former European Investment Bank Vice President Vazil Hudák was interviewed by investigators looking into the transaction.
Environmental groups urge European Commission to speed up nature safeguards in the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova
February 23, 2024
The EU must accelerate plans to strengthen nature protection rules for energy infrastructure development under the Energy Community Treaty (1), 36 civil society organisations today urged the EU Commissioner for Environment, Virginijus Sinkevičius, in a joint letter.
Initiative for Coal Regions in Transition for Western Balkans and Ukraine: where we are and how to move forward
January 22, 2024
The Initiative for Coal Regions in Transition for Western Balkans and Ukraine platform builds on the experiences of the EU Initiative for coal regions in transition since 2017, with both initiatives contributing to implementing the European Green Deal.
Following the money: Czech Republic
December 18, 2023
This briefing explores the Czech Territorial Just Transition Plan for three designated regions – Ústecký, Moravskoslezský, and Karlovarský – receiving funds from the Just Transition Fund.
A truly nature friendly investment – support for the development of Blooming meadows
December 18, 2023
This case study demonstrates a new pilot programme which is designed specifically to help these grasslands and the landowners managing them.
On 14 December 2023, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) could decide to end all fossil fuel investments
December 7, 2023
Two days* after COP 28 is due to conclude, the board of directors of the EBRD, a multilateral development bank owned by 72 governments, will vote on its new Energy Sector Strategy. This policy will guide the Bank’s energy investments until 2028.
New elections in Poland offer one last chance to solve the Oder River catastrophe
December 1, 2023
The Oder River, which forms the border between Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic, faced a severe environmental disaster in 2022. More than one year later, the river is in peril again. The decisions taken by the previous government have so far only exacerbated the situation. Now, a new government offers one last opportunity to show environmental stewardship and reverse the catastrophe.
Local budgets and the reconstruction of Ukraine
November 30, 2023
In the first part of the series ‘Ukrainian communities at the forefront of reconstruction efforts: Financial sources and their accessibility for municipalities’, we examine the problems of access to finance for reconstruction at the community level and explore the possibilities of financing the needs of municipalities through extra-budgetary funding, including international financial institutions.
