EU budget gap holding back municipal waste reform and decarbonisation in central and eastern Europe
March 10, 2025
A new report by Bankwatch, Za Zemiata and Zelena Akcija, in collaboration with Zero Waste Europe, reveals that current EU budget allocations for circular economy and municipal waste management measures are insufficient to help central and eastern European countries catch up with the EU’s decarbonisation targets.
Waste management and the circular economy in central and eastern Europe: An analysis of EU cohesion policy funding
March 10, 2025
This report assesses the impact of cohesion policy funding on the capacity and progress of selected central and eastern European countries in building efficient waste management systems, an essential component of the EU’s new Circular Economy Action Plan.
Reforming public investment management in Ukraine: An analysis of Ukraine’s Single Project Pipeline
March 7, 2025
This report assesses the state of public investment management in Ukraine during the current transitional phase as well as the quality of project concepts within the Single Project Pipeline across five sectors of economic activity.
Guidelines for selecting just transition projects in Ukraine
February 20, 2025
Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine remains steadfast in its commitment to a just transition. As an EU accession candidate, Ukraine must integrate the Just Transition Mechanism’s principles and criteria into its national policies. Since Ukraine plans to join the EU before its coal phase-out in 2035, the Just Transition Fund regulation provides the most relevant framework for meeting these requirements.
Hungary’s fracking shame: Green groups challenge expansion of controversial Corvinus project
February 13, 2025
Shale gas extraction, or fracking, is so infamous for its environmental impacts that it is banned in multiple European countries. In Hungary, however, the authorities are looking to expand a fracking project near the border with Romania, despite it already worsening the climate crisis and threatening local agriculture. Campaigners are challenging these risky plans.
One foot in Europe: EU Interreg programmes advance the partnership principle in Ukraine.
February 12, 2025
Wartime challenges and the European integration process present both obstacles and opportunities for Ukraine. As the country rebuilds, it has the opportunity to adopt EU best practices by embracing democratic values, public participation through the partnership principle, and financial transparency.
Towards Green Cohesion seminar – Key demands
February 4, 2025
This document presents key recommendations for shaping the future of the EU’s post-2027 cohesion policy.
EIB Group Complaints Mechanism ineffective in addressing complaints submitted in relation to the Budapest Airport expansion project
January 31, 2025
In this case study, we lay bare inefficiencies of the EIB and EBRD grievance mechanisms using a real-life example – the Budapest Airport Expansion Project – and make recommendations for the next review of the EIB Group Complaints Mechanism Policy.
Rebuilding Ukraine: Opportunities for public participation with international donors
January 30, 2025
Ukrainian civil society is both the main beneficiary and the driving force behind Ukraine’s reconstruction. The Ukraine Facility Regulation invites socio-economic partners and civil society representatives to submit ‘opinions’ to the European Commission on implementation of the Ukraine Plan. However, its influence remains limited.
Răstolița: Major destruction for minimal energy
January 20, 2025
Nestled at the foothills of Călimani National Park in eastern Romania, the Răstolița river, a tributary of the Mureș, flows through a pristine and biodiverse landscape. However, this idyllic setting is under threat from the Răstolița hydropower project, a relic of the communist era. Designed over 30 years ago, this outdated project is incompatible with modern environmental standards and poses a severe threat to the unique ecosystem of the Răstolița river, home to the endangered Danube salmon.
