EIB needs fundamental reforms to back its sustainable finance plans
January 20, 2021
Following today’s annual press conference of the European Investment Bank (EIB), in which the Bank’s President Werner Hoyer, presented its role in supporting the EU’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic downturn in “smart and green” way, Bankwatch’s campaigners commented on the EIB’s sustainability track record and key deficiencies in the Bank’s policies that have been missing in President Hoyer’s statements today.
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.
CEE Bankwatch : Serbia and BiH Lagging Behind the Rest of WB in Decarbonisation
June 9, 2020
New coal-fired power plants were on the table just two years ago in all Western Balkans countries with the exception of Albania. Now, however, only Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Serbia “are clinging to coal, perpetuating air pollution and fuelling t
The Balkans are decarbonising, why aren’t Serbia and Bosnia?
June 4, 2020
Despite this deadly legacy, just two years ago, all the Western Balkan countries except Albania still planned to build new coal power plants. Since then, three out of five have abandoned these plans. The region has split, creating a two-speed energy transition.
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.
Wither the money: Czechia must make better use of EU funding to meet EU climate goals
April 22, 2020
On 29 April the European Commission will unveil an updated proposal for the EU’s next long-term budget for 2021-2027, which makes it a good time to evaluate to what extent the current budget is contributing to decarbonisation efforts across Member States.
ADB’s Clean Agenda: CSOs call against fueling dirty energy and coal investments
April 5, 2020
This year’s 52nd Asian Development Bank (ADB) Annual Governors’ Meeting is being held in Nadi, Fiji. Similar to its neighboring countries in the Pacific, Fiji is on the brink of suffering from the severe impacts of climate change despite its low global
EU carbon tax: A much-needed nudge for decarbonisation in the Western Balkans?
March 30, 2020
An EU consultation is currently ongoing on the plans to introduce a carbon border tax. Bankwatch sees this as an important opportunity to make sure Western Balkan electricity producers play by the rules when participating in the EU energy market.
Just Transition Fund needs stronger safeguards on inclusion and decarbonisation
March 20, 2020
Last week, the feedback period on the EU’s proposed regulation for the Just Transition Fund (JTF) closed. CEE Bankwatch Network was among over 150 organisations and individuals that submitted comments.
Chinese-financed coal projects in Europe
December 10, 2019
As coal phase-out is well underway in the European Union, and the international community is mobilizing to tackle the climate crisis, new coal plants are still planned and built in Southeast Europe, courtesy of Chinese financial support.
