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.
Mixed signals from the European Commission: Undermining housing affordability and the energy transition in central and eastern Europe
May 29, 2026
This briefing highlights the potential impacts of two recent EU policy developments and also presents several successful examples from central and eastern Europe.
Slovakia’s billion-euro opportunity: Redirecting climate revenues and fossil-fuel subsidies to tackle energy poverty
May 20, 2026
The rising prices of oil, gas, fertilisers and other commodities pose significant challenges to central and eastern European economies dependent on fossil fuels.
Joint civil society reaction to the European Parliament report on the national and regional partnership plans
May 13, 2026
While the proposed framework aims to simplify EU funding, its strong focus on consolidation, flexibility and centralised planning risks undermining core EU principles, including partnership, transparency, cohesion and environmental integrity.
Call for an EU-wide windfall profit mechanism in response to the energy crisis
April 17, 2026
We have joined 30 European non-governmental organisations in calling on the EU to tax excess oil profits to support Europeans during the energy crisis. The group represents more than 40 million citizens across more than 2,000 member organisations, all
Community energy gathers momentum in Estonia
April 15, 2026
Community energy has emerged as a quiet undercurrent in Estonia, but has yet to firmly establish itself in the broader energy debate. Still, a number of pioneering communities across the country have already taken control of their energy production and consumption. Aiming to replace fossil fuels with cleaner and more affordable alternatives, they have adopted practical solutions that combine local needs, renewable energy and cooperative collaboration.
Towards a just, green and accountable EU budget: Bankwatch’s recommendations for the Committee on Budgets interim report
April 14, 2026
It is crucial for Members of the European Parliament to ensure the next long-term budget genuinely supports a fair green transition, territorial cohesion and democratic accountability.
Can the EU’s Social Climate Fund reach vulnerable households in Estonia?
March 5, 2026
As Estonia prepares for the EU’s next long-term budget and financial instruments, it is equally important to assess how these new support measures are designed and reviewed. In collaboration with national authorities, we at the Estonian Green Movement are actively seeking solutions to ensure that support effectively reaches vulnerable households. To assist in this process, the Centre of Applied Social Sciences at the University of Tartu has developed a data-driven model that gives these households a fairer chance of accessing support.
Ensuring transparency in the drafting of the National and Regional Partnership Plans
February 9, 2026
The 53 organisations call on the European Commission and Member States to ensure transparent, structured, and inclusive National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs).
Legal, technical and financial challenges facing energy communities in central and eastern Europe
December 29, 2025
This briefing identifies the legal, technical and financial barriers facing energy communities in five EU Member States.
