China must walk its EU standards talk
July 6, 2018
The seventh Central and Eastern Europe-China “16+1” summit for heads of state is set to take place this week in Sofia, Bulgaria, on the heels of an EU initiative on screening Foreign Direct Investments in the areas of security and public order. The EU initiative comes amidst concerns of increased foreign direct investments – including Chinese – going into strategic and sensitive sectors in Europe.
The great coal jobs fraud (2018 UPDATE)
June 28, 2018
This study, an update of our November 2016 analysis, examines the claims and finds that in almost all cases, they are exaggerated. In fact, even the current levels of employment cannot be maintained and some companies such as Elektroprivreda Srbije and …
Protests spread in Western Balkans along with air pollution
February 19, 2018
Community organisations across the region are fed up with worsening air quality and are taking their grievances to the streets
Rushed loan approval for Tuzla 7 coal plant, but project far from ready
November 28, 2017
The China Exim bank and Bosnian power utility Elektroprivreda BIH yesterday signed a massive loan agreement for the Tuzla 7 lignite power plant – a project that would have dire health, economic and climate repercussions.
Race to the bottom: dire air quality worsens as BiH government mulls new coal plant at Tuzla
November 22, 2017
The results of our independent air pollution monitoring are in, and the situation is just getting worse while the government plans even more coal power.
Balkan governments unprepared for new EU pollution rules
August 17, 2017
New EU rules entering into force today, to limit pollution from power plants, will also apply in most Western Balkan countries. But the region’s governments are so far acting like they don’t exist.
[Campaign update] EU urged to act on Western Balkans smog after alarming pollution levels were found
June 26, 2017
Results of more than half a year of independent air pollution monitoring in the Balkans have been launched today. During a conference at the European Parliament today, MEPs, European Commission and Energy Community representatives, NGOs and citizens groups called for urgent action on air pollution in the Western Balkans.
Western Balkans holds breath for better air quality
June 26, 2017
In the Western Balkans, air pollution can be a fatal problem, made worse by some of those countries’ energy policies. Ioana Ciuta sheds light on the region’s developing crisis, which is claiming lives at an alarming rate.
Independent monitoring of air pollution calls for urgent action in the Balkans
June 26, 2017
Independent dust monitoring in Balkan countries has found worrying levels of particulate matter, dust so small it enters deep into our lungs and blood streams causing irreversible damage and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
What will it take to make Balkan leaders realise new coal plants are a liability, not a gold mine?
June 16, 2017
Almost all the countries in the Balkan region are planning to build new coal power plants, but there has been virtually no mention of the need for them to comply with new pollution standards.
