European Ombudsman urges European Investment Bank to enhance transparency – once again!
July 26, 2023
The European Investment Bank (EIB), the EU’s lending arm, is facing renewed pressure to improve its transparency (1). In a recent decision, the Ombudsman highlighted the EIB’s insufficient justification for withholding access to environmental information related to a significant loan granted to Poland’s largest state-owned energy utility, PGE (2).
Civil society calls for the EU’s Ukraine Facility to prioritise the Partnership Principle and environmental conditionality
July 20, 2023
Today, Bankwatch together with Ecoaction (1) and Razom We Stand (3) submitted initial comments to the European Parliament, urging the integration of the Partnership Principle and environmental conditionality in the legislation on the Ukraine Facility.
New report – deadly legal breaches by Western Balkan coal plants increased in 2022
June 28, 2023
In 2022, deadly air pollution from the Western Balkans’ coal power plants increased compared to 2021, according to the fifth edition of Bankwatch’s Comply or Close report, published today (1). Emissions of all three regulated pollutants – sulphur dioxide (SO2), dust and nitrogen oxides (NOx) grew, and for the first time, the region’s overall limit for NOx was breached.
Serbia: Complaints over illegal operation of Morava coal power plant
June 23, 2023
A complaint by the Renewables and Environmental Regulatory Institute (RERI) and CEE Bankwatch Network (1) challenging Serbia’s failure to comply with pollution control rules under the Energy Community Treaty was recorded yesterday by the the Energy Community Secretariat in Vienna (2).
Green light for major Black Sea gas project will accelerate the climate crisis
June 21, 2023
Romania’s OMV-Petrom announced today its final investment decision on the Neptun Deep fossil gas project in the Black Sea. If built, this massive offshore development could be the final nail in the coffin for Romania’s—and the EU’s—commitments to stem the climate crisis.
EU Member States jeopardising economic recovery by locking citizens out of decision-making
June 20, 2023
EU Member States are exacerbating economic inequality, eroding democracy and obstructing efforts to create a green, transformative European economy by marginalising citizens in decision-making, a new report by the Citizens’ Observatory for Green Deal Financing reveals (20 June).
EU funds fossil gas in Poland and Romania despite climate goals
June 6, 2023
More than EUR 1.5 billion in EU funds has been provided to Poland and Romania for fossil gas projects since 2014. The two governments have earmarked even larger sums for the current EU budget period despite the bloc’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report released today by CEE Bankwatch Network.
European Commission urged to act on destructive hydropower projects in Romanian protected areas
May 11, 2023
Bankwatch Romania today submitted a complaint to the European Commission, seeking to reverse an Emergency Ordinance of the Romanian Government, which greenlights nine destructive hydropower projects (1) and is considered to breach three European Union Directives.
EU’s house bank breached environmental standards on Serbia hydropower project
April 14, 2023
The European Investment Bank (EIB) breached its environmental standards during the approval of the Komalj small hydropower plant in Serbia, the Bank’s Complaint Mechanism has concluded, in a report published today. (1)
Latvia abandons plans for controversial LNG terminal but still needs to ditch fossil gas
April 12, 2023
Latvia’s government announced yesterday (11 April) it is terminating plans for a liquified fossil gas (commonly termed liquified natural gas or LNG) terminal in Skulte.
