Harmful hydropower projects in SE Europe enabled by sub-standard environmental assessments
November 13, 2015
Civil society organisations today published a new report looking at the quality of 25 environmental impact assessments (EIA) and 2 strategic environmental assessments (SEA) done for hydropower projects in seven countries in the last five years and examines how the mistakes made in these cases could be avoided in the future.
Environmental organisations deplore ‘lost year’ for environmental protection
November 2, 2015
Brussels, November 2 – One year since the entry into office of the current European Commission headed by Jean-Claude Juncker, environmental groups have criticised the EU executive for a paralysis in policymaking on issues related to the environment.
Ukrainian court backs state attempt to stifle public debate on ageing nuclear fleet
October 29, 2015
Kiev – Today a Kiev court ruled in favour of a defamation lawsuit brought by the Ukrainian state against a civil society organisation, thus backing the government’s attempts to suppress public debate on the country’s ageing nuclear fleet.
EBRD policy breaches at Serbia coal mine confirmed by bank’s own complaint mechanism
October 29, 2015
Prague, Belgrade – A day after the Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) approved a new EUR 200 million loan for Serbia’s electric utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS), an internal review at the Bank finds that it breached its own environmental and social policy when approving the previous EUR 80 million loan to the same company.
Czech government pushes people to edge in new coal mine expansion
October 19, 2015
Prague – In a landmark decision today, the Czech Republic reversed a quarter century-old ban that prohibited the expansion of surface mining in an area of Northern Bohemia, allowing excavation in close vicinity of homes of more than 120 000 people.
CSOs deliver over 16 000 signatures for a cleaner energy future in Tirana
October 16, 2015
Tirana, Albania – A group of CSOs from South East Europe (SEE) delivered over 16 000 petition signatures to Miguel Arias Cañete, EU Commissioner for Energy and Climate Action and Co-Chair of the Ministerial Council of the Energy Community today before its meeting in Tirana, Albania.
Joint reaction on the Energy Community’s Roadmap from CEE Bankwatch Network and Climate Action Network Europe
October 16, 2015
On Friday 16th October the Ministerial Council meeting in Tirana adopted a Roadmap on the future of the Energy Community.
Major blow for Croatian coal plant as Crédit Agricole announces new coal power policy
September 30, 2015
Paris, France – Today’s publication of new criteria for coal-fired power plant financing by French bank Crédit Agricole suggests that the bank will not be able to finance the controversial €800 million Plomin C coal power plant in Croatia, believe campaign groups. The policy now rules out finance for coal power plants in high-income countries, which includes Croatia.
Southeast Europe must close the gap on energy efficiency, says new report
September 29, 2015
Brussels, Belgium / Podgorica, Montenegro – Countries of Southeast Europe (SEE) waste much more energy than the members of the European Union, according to a new report Energy Efficiency – Just Do It! published today by a group of civil society organizations from across the region.
Bankwatch and Counter Balance statement on the adoption of the European Investment Bank Climate Strategy
September 22, 2015
“As Europe prepares to host the seminal UN climate summit in Paris at year’s end, the EU’s house bank is turning away from its commitment to finance the bloc’s climate action.
