The worst was yet to come – ludicrous air pollution in Romanian village
June 8, 2017
Levels of particulate matter (fine dust) in Rosia de Jiu, Romania were up to 20 times above the limit suggested by the World Health Organisation, show the results of our independent monitoring.
From Enver Hoxha to the EBRD (and back) – hydropower in Albania
June 7, 2017
The EBRD and Societe Generale are now sponsoring a mass-scale construction project across Albania. Over 300 hydropower plants in various stages of development are posing real threats to the mountainous country’s nature and people. They should avoid repeating Ever Hoxha’s concrete folly.
The Balkans may become the achilles heel of EU-China climate leadership
June 1, 2017
The European Union’s and China’s joint commitment to climate action is tarnished by Chinese support for and the EU’s neglect of coal projects in the Balkans, as a new briefing explains. But it is still not too late to change course.
Balkan energy projects with Chinese involvement – state of play June 2017
June 1, 2017
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Romania all plan new lignite power plants during the next few years. In contrast, most EU countries are giving up building new coal plants and seven EU states are already coal-free. Since the European Inve
Locals oppose dam that is set to endanger critical fish habitat in Bosnia-Herzegovina
May 30, 2017
We are passing through the canyon of the river Vrbas, in north-west Bosnia-Herzegovina. I am looking through a car window, mouth wide open in awe. While I look up to the rocky, edgy peaks hundreds of meters above and down to the heavenly blue river, I
The Runcurel expropriations, Europe’s second most harmful subsidy
May 22, 2017
The Romanian Government has been named and shamed today in a public fossil fuel subsidies awards ceremony in Brussels for fostering land expropriations required for expanding a coal mine, displacing families and destroying nature.
[Campaign update] Environmentalists take planned Montenegrin coal plant to court
May 16, 2017
Green Home, a Montenegrin environmental non-governmental organisation, on Friday submitted a complaint to the Administrative Court of Montenegro requesting the cancellation of the environmental approval for the controversial Pljevlja II coal power plant the government seeks to build.
The dirty secret in Sofia’s backyard – the coal dust that only comes at night
May 10, 2017
Brussels may fine Bulgaria for its excessive air pollution. But living in Pernik, the most polluted town in Europe, remains a hazard to peoples’ health as the results of Bankwatch’s independent dust monitoring show.
“To the best of our knowledge”: How to improve the transparency and accountability of intermediated EBRD investments in three steps
May 9, 2017
Disbursing public money via private-sector controlled financial intermediaries (FIs) is a means to an end: reaching a larger set of smaller beneficiaries. It has its strong rationale, in particular when it comes to renewable energy projects that, in co
Serbian mining company ignores desperate calls for compensation while Kolubara mine is reaching family houses
May 8, 2017
Life is a living hell for families in Vreoci, Serbia, where lignite excavators have almost reached their houses. As the mine’s financier, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development must not allow Serbian state utility EPS to create a fait accompli that leaves locals with scraps and without home.