Behind the ‘green recovery’: How the EU recovery fund is failing to protect nature and what can still be saved
June 2, 2022
This report prepared by CEE Bankwatch Network and EuroNatur, shines a spotlight on the implementation of recovery funds, and reveals a series of harmful reforms and investments for biodiversity set to be financed in nine central and eastern European Member States (Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Slovenia).
Assessment of operational programmes in the Czech Republic
June 1, 2022
This briefing offers an analysis of the Czech Republic’s draft operational programmes for 2021-2027 and recommendations regarding the potential for increasing the programmes’ climate and environmental contributions.
Position paper: Kosovo’s National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP)
May 31, 2022
This position paper aims to provide recommendations for Kosovo’s National Energy and Climate Plan, which is currently being developed, from an environmental sustainability and public inclusion standpoint.
Assessment of Hungary’s operational programmes
May 26, 2022
This briefing offers an analysis of Hungary’s draft operational programmes for 2021-2027 and recommendations regarding the potential for increasing the programmes’ climate and environmental contributions.
District heating case studies
May 17, 2022
Three case studies on district heating in Dronninglund, Denmark; Marstal, Denmark; and Vienna, Austria provide innovative solutions to successfully decarbonise district heating. These can inspire similar action in other locations across central and eastern Europe.
Comments to (the Romanian language version of) the Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia 2021-2035 and to the “Developers’ position on the comments of the neighbouring states”
May 12, 2022
Serbia consulted its neighbour, Romania, about the transboundary environmental impact of its national Spatial Plan, supposed to cover the period between 2021 (!) and 2035. This time, with the text of the Spatial Plan in the language of the potentially affected public, i.e. Romanian, as required by the Espoo Convention. Bankwatch Romania submitted written input, highlighting, among others, that the so-called “gradual decarbonisation” mentioned in the Spatial Plan consists in reality of only 2GW additional installed capacity in wind electricity but of 4GW in new lignite and fossil gas capacity. Bankwatch Romania called for a revision of the Plan, which would account for a genuine decarbonisation in line with the Green Agenda goals, which means abandoning new lignite infrastructure plans.
Assessment of Poland’s operational programmes
May 9, 2022
This briefing offers an analysis of Poland’s draft operational programmes for 2021-2027 and recommendations regarding the potential for increasing the programmes’ climate and environmental contributions.
The state of youth engagement in the implementation of the EU Just Transition Mechanism
May 6, 2022
This report provides an overview of the political youth engagement activities for the development of Territorial Just Transition Plans of twelve EU Member States.
Energy communities: A brief explainer for managing authorities in central and eastern Europe
May 4, 2022
This briefing from Bankwatch and REScoop.eu explains the concept of energy communities and their wide range of benefits. It gives an insight into how their development can be supported at the national and local levels and why Member States should make use of the variety of EU funding streams to support energy communities. It also highlights EU legal definitions and suggests concrete recommendations on how to support them and overcome existing challenges.
Just transition project implementation checklist
April 29, 2022
The paper outlines what comes next after the preparation of the Territorial Just Transition Plans and their final approval by the European Commission. It takes a look not only at the actual planning and spending of the funds provided in accordance with the approved Plans, but also at the challenges faced by the regions and the level to which they are prepared to address them. The checklist provides an easy-to-use overview of what each region should have in place in order to make sure it reaches its professed goals along with a discussion of each issue, relevant examples and references to more detailed reports, documents or regulations concerning particular points.
