Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland trail as EU recovery fund closes, Bankwatch says
October 12, 2026
Hungary, Bulgaria and Poland are trailing the rest of the EU in drawing on the bloc’s post-pandemic recovery fund as it enters its final phase, with Romania, Slovakia and Czechia close behind, environmental watchdog CEE Bankwatch Network said.
How monitoring EU funds helped strengthen wetland protection in Poland
October 12, 2026
Protecting nature is often about spotting problems early, asking the right questions and knowing how to use the tools available. As members of the monitoring committee for the European Funds for Wielkopolska 2021-2027 programme, we did exactly that when we uncovered an EU-funded project that was destroying a valuable peatland in the name of climate adaptation.
EU’s biggest-ever recovery fund faces final judgement – did it benefit citizens?
September 30, 2026
The Recovery and Resilience Facility, the EUR 577 billion flagship instrument of NextGenerationEU, has entered its final implementation phase. Today marks the non-extendable deadline for EU Member States to submit their final payment requests for post-pandemic recovery and reform projects.
Social Climate Navigator
July 21, 2026
The Social Climate Navigator is an interactive digital tool which clarifies 16 key concepts closely associated with the Social Climate Fund. The Navigator offers more than definitions – it visually illustrates how the social and climate aspects of each concept are interconnected, demonstrating why they cannot be treated in isolation and why both are fundamental to achieving a just and effective green transition.
Empowering vulnerable communities: Practical climate solutions from central and eastern Europe
July 16, 2026
This publication explores practical, scalable investments that support both decarbonisation and vulnerable communities across central and eastern Europe.
Spending without substance: Czech flagship industry programme fails to track climate impact
July 10, 2026
The Operational Programme Technologies and Applications for Competitiveness (OP TAC) is one of the Czech Republic’s flagship EU funded programmes for the 2021–2027 period.
One year on: Most social climate plans still missing despite EU legal deadline
June 30, 2026
Ageing Soviet-era housing and outdated public infrastructure mean central and eastern Europe can least afford further delays.
Building renovation in Latvia will cost EUR 32 billion: Impossible target or unavoidable necessity?
June 29, 2026
All EU Member States were required to prepare a draft national building renovation plan and submit it to the European Commission by 31 December 2025.
Is the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive delivering for countries in central and eastern Europe?
June 29, 2026
This booklet examines the early impact of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) following the 29 May 2026 transposition deadline, drawing on insights from seven countries in central and eastern Europe.
When citizens speak: Lessons on energy poverty from the Romanian town of Petroșani
June 3, 2026
As temperatures rise over the summer months, conversations about heating homes may seem distant for many. Yet for many residents of Petroșani – a former coal-mining town in Romania’s Jiu Valley – the challenge of keeping homes warm is a recurring reality that returns every winter, shaped by ageing buildings, low incomes and limited access to support.
