New report calls on Member States to steer EU regional and recovery funding towards climate neutrality
July 16, 2020
Ahead of this week’s European Council meeting where Heads of State will gather to discuss and potentially agree on the next term EU budget, the report analyses investments and measures presented in the NECPs of the following 14 Member States: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. It points out the measures in NECPs that are set to receive funding from the next EU budget and recovery funding, makes the case for significant spending improvements to boost climate ambition, and indicates harmful measures in the NECPs that should be excluded from the EU funding.
How to hit the ground running on just transition in the Western Balkans and Ukraine
July 15, 2020
As the European Commission gears up to launch an Initiative meant to help coal regions in the Western Balkans and Ukraine transition to sustainable economies, Bankwatch publishes today a set of recommendations based on its experience working with the Platform for Coal Regions in Transition, on which the new Initiative will be modelled.
European Parliament asks European Investment Bank to double down on sustainability and transparency
July 9, 2020
The European Parliament has called on the European Investment Bank (EIB), the world’s largest public lender, to facilitate Europe’s effort to tackle the climate crisis by fully aligning its investment policies and practices with the Paris climate accord.
Western Balkan coal power plants breach pollution limits by 6 times, for the second year in a row
June 23, 2020
Two and a half years since pollution control legislation under the Energy Community Treaty obliged Western Balkan governments to apply EU norms, a new Bankwatch analysis finds air pollution – primarily sulphur dioxide (SO2) and dust emissions – from coal-fired power plants remains stubbornly high, choking communities across the region and beyond.
EU budget breakthrough achievable with higher climate ambition, say campaigners
June 19, 2020
Brussels – Emphasising green spending in the next one trillion plus euros EU budget is the surest way to reach an agreement on the deal while leading the bloc to a more resilient recovery from the pandemic, say campaigners at CEE Bankwatch Network ahead of today’s European Council.
Legal challenges mount for Armenia gold mine as complaint filed to EU development lender
June 15, 2020
Yerevan – The beleaguered Amulsar gold mine in Armenia broke rules attached to two loans totalling EUR 11 million it received in 2017 and 2009 from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, alleges a new complaint from 23 people living near the project and Armenian and international civil society groups including CEE Bankwatch Network.
Polish government urged to include municipalities, civil society in planning future of coal regions
June 1, 2020
Warsaw – As the Polish government is gearing up to prepare plans for the transformation of coal regions that would allow it to tap a 40 billion euro Just Transition Fund made available by Brussels, local municipalities and civil society demand to be included in the planning process.
Boost for Cohesion funding can speed EU recovery with concrete guidance on how to spend it
May 27, 2020
Brussels – The European Commission’s pandemic recovery package is a welcomed boost for cohesion and the energy transformation in countries that need it most, but progress will only come with clear guidance for how this money is spent.
Uphill battle for Commission to bring Member States in line with new Biodiversity Strategy
May 20, 2020
The European Commission’s new Biodiversity Strategy 2030 published today has the right tools in place to safeguard nature but only if it can enforce the laws that Member States have at times skirted with impunity in the past, says CEE Bankwatch Network.
Development Finance for Covid-19 Crisis Should Uphold Human Rights
May 18, 2020
Global Coalition Calls for Essential Services, Economic Justice, Protection for Vulnerable Communities and the Environment
