European development bank’s new fossil fuels pledge falls short of aligning with the Paris Agreement
July 2, 2021
The governors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), representing 69 shareholder governments as well as the EU and the European Investment Bank, decided yesterday the Bank will decrease its support for the fossil fuels industry.
Secret Chinese deal on Bosnia-Herzegovina coal plant must be urgently stopped, say NGOs
June 30, 2021
Environmental organizations have today expressed concerns and called on the Government of Republika Srpska to clearly explain what is happening with the Ugljevik 3 coal power plant and to urgently cancel the concession for the project.
European bank challenged on human rights credentials
June 21, 2021
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has struggled to prevent the billions of euros it lends each year from supporting autocratic regimes, finds a new report from civil society groups released on the eve of the bank’s thirtieth annual shareholder meeting.
Commission must apply spending rules to EU recovery funds before greenlighting national plans
June 17, 2021
The European Commission has released its first assessments of how Member States plan to spend from EUR 672 billion Recovery and Resilience Facility, and Bankwatch urges the Commission to ensure that commitments for spending on climate and biodiversity protection are met before the plans are approved.
Billions of EU recovery money to support fossil fuels
May 31, 2021
Several EU states plan to use the EUR 672 billion Recovery and Resilience Facility to expand fossil gas infrastructure using loopholes in the fund’s regulations. These proposals do not comply with objectives of the European Green Deal and recent recommendations from the International Energy Agency to end funding for fossil fuels, warns CEE Bankwatch Network.
Uneven progress towards green recovery as EU members submit spending plans to access EUR 672 billion fund
April 28, 2021
Brussels – EU Member States that opened up their spending plans for the EUR 672 billion Recovery and Resilience Facility have made the most progress towards the aims of the European Green Deal, finds a new assessment of eight countries in central and eastern Europe.
Complaints on controversial motorway project in Bosnia and Herzegovina trigger EBRD inquiry as forced expropriations begin in South Mostar
April 27, 2021
Local residents south of Mostar fear they could be uprooted by a motorway project financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). With forced expropriations underway, the Bank’s accountability mechanism has now announced it will investigate these concerns.
Nature ignored in European recovery funding, say campaign groups
March 18, 2021
Member States plan pitiful amounts of spending from the €672 billion Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) to protect and preserve nature, in spite of EU requirements and the generally poor state of biodiversity across the continent, say civil society groups ahead of Thursday’s meeting of European environmental ministers.
EU bank failing on transparency and openness, warns civil society
March 11, 2021
Brussels – The European Investment Bank (EIB) is a laggard among its lending peers in terms of the amount of information it provides about its activities, finds a new analysis.The 53 civil society groups behind this analysis — including CEE Bankwatch Network, Counter Balance, Client Earth and many more — are urging the Bank to be more open about the impacts of its financing.
How are CEE governments planning to use EU funds for the transition of coal regions? New Bankwatch report gives journalists tools to monitor the process
March 3, 2021
Territorial Just Transition Plans (TJTPs) are a precondition for European Union Member States to access the EUR 17.5 billion Just Transition Fund (JTF). The plans must outline the expected process of transitioning away from a coal-based economy; the most affected territories and all types of impacts; what operations are envisaged; and how the process will ensure participation, monitoring and evaluation. TJTPs are developed at the sub-regional level; therefore, countries must produce documents for each territory where they plan to spend money from the Just Transition Fund.
