A Green Agenda for the Western Balkans: Where are the teeth?
October 8, 2020
The European Commission on Tuesday published its 2020 enlargement package and an Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans. This was followed on Wednesday by a Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, expected to be endorsed by the countries’ leaders at a summit in Sofia in November. We take a look at how the proposed Green Agenda compares to our recommendations.
Priority energy infrastructure projects for the EU’s neighbours still anchored in fossil fuels
July 28, 2020
The energy projects proposed by the Energy Community countries for priority status, including privileged access to public funds, have now passed the evaluation stage, expecting a final decision by the year’s end. On the bright side, at least two megalomaniac projects were dropped. On the dark one, the remaining projects floor the gas pedal.
РЕК Битола со најголеми емисии на сулфур диоксид на Балканот
July 1, 2020
Термоелектраните на јаглен на Западен Балкан продолжуваат да емитуваат „неверојатно високи количини на загадувачи во воздухот.“ РЕК Битола е еден од најголемите загадувачи, но граѓанските организации се сомневаат дека комбинатот ќе ги намали емисиите до 2027 година.
Bosnia-Herzegovina: Illegal lignite mine expansion at Gacko must be halted
June 26, 2020
An environmental impact assessment process is currently ongoing to expand the open-cast lignite mine at Gacko in Bosnia-Herzegovina. But the mine expansion started long ago.
Romanian coal mining supported by ‘illegal state aid’
May 15, 2020
Environmental groups filed a state aid complaint with the European Commission last week claiming that the Romanian government breached EU laws by financially supporting the expansion of coal mines owned by a state-owned power company. Source : Romanian
La “cortina di carbone” è la nuova cortina di ferro
May 5, 2020
Mentre i Paesi dell’Europa occidentale procedono verso la riduzione dell’uso del carbone, i paesi dell’ex Unione Sovietica si muovono nella direzione opposta. Source: La “cortina di carbone” è la nuova cortina di ferro
The wind of change is still far from Galabovo
May 5, 2020
The Maritsa East Complex in Bulgaria, the largest energy complex in South-East Europe, has become notorious in the region and in the European Union for its complete disregard for environmental and social safeguards.
A herd of white elephants is approaching the EU’s neighbours
April 30, 2020
Over three quarters of the energy projects proposed by the EU’s neighbours for priority status, including privileged access to public funds, are fossil fuels projects.
Mixed messages in Romania’s energy and climate plan, as new coal projects are shelved but no date set for a coal phase-out
February 17, 2020
Romania’s new national energy and climate plan (NECP) is sending incoherent signals regarding the country’s commitment for a just transition away from fossil fuels, finds an analysis by Bankwatch Romania.
Odejście od węgla albo miliardy przejdą Polsce koło nosa. Czy UE skusi polski rząd pieniędzmi na transformację?
January 14, 2020
Albo Polska ogłosi datę odejścia od węgla, albo nici z pieniędzy na transformację energetyczną – Komisja Europejska przedstawiła dziś projekt “mechanizmu sprawiedliwej transformacji”. Na wart miliardy euro program mogą liczyć kraje, które odchodzą od w