The public is still paying, hydropower operators are still profiting
January 27, 2021
More than a year after Bankwatch revealed the scale of hydropower subsidies in the Western Balkans, progress in eliminating environmentally harmful aid is still slow.
Renewable energy incentives in the Western Balkans
January 27, 2021
Progress towards compliance with EU state aid rules and preventing environmentally harmful subsidies.
18 NGOs call on the Coal Platform for the Western Balkans and Ukraine to commit to public participation and climate action
December 10, 2020
As the Coal Platform for the Western Balkans and Ukraine kicks off with an inaugural meeting on Dec. 10-11, 18 NGOs active in the Western Balkans and Ukraine call for effective rules to be put in place from the start in order to ensure an inclusive transition away from all fossil fuels.
Four principles for a participatory just transition in the Western Balkans and Ukraine
December 10, 2020
Based on its experience in coal regions in the Western Balkans and with the EU’s Coal Regions in Transition Platform, Bankwatch has come up with four principles that the new Coal Platform for the Western Balkans and Ukraine must adhere to from the start to ensure it functions smoothly and achieves its goals.
„Фронт 21/42“: Експанзијата на мали хидроцентрали се заканува трајно да ги уништи нашите реки
October 27, 2020
„Фронт 21/42“ се приклучува кон манифестот потпишан од над 150 европски невладини организации, со кој се бара од Европската Унија, Европската инвестициска банка и од Европскиот парламент да запрат со поддршката и финансирањето нови хидроцентрали.
In the Balkans, virtual run reveals real problem of air pollution from coal power plants
October 21, 2020
65 runners from 13 countries and three continents will race in Sunday’s inaugural Lung Run, a first-of-its-kind trail marathon that will measure air pollution from coal power plants in the Balkans and beyond.
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.
Worlds Rivers Day: Save European free-flowing rivers – end subsidies for small hydropower
September 27, 2020
WWF and Bankwatch are calling for governments to end feed-in tariffs that are driving the small hydropower plant explosion in the Balkans threatening to destroy Europe’s last free-flowing rivers.
EU-China leaders’ meeting: EU must do more to tackle legal breaches by Chinese companies in Europe, say civil society organisations
September 14, 2020
The European Union needs to step up its actions on violations of EU law by Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Europe, warned civil society groups working in southeast Europe today (1), as European and Chinese leaders meet online in lieu of the postponed Leipzig summit.
Illegal lignite mine expansion in Bosnia and Herzegovina prompts NGO formal complaint
July 30, 2020
The ongoing expansion at the Gacko lignite mine in Bosnia and Herzegovina, happening already for over three years and treated lightly by local environmental authorities, breaches the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, argues the complaint submitted today to the Energy Community’s secretariat by the Center for Environment from Banja Luka. The organisation has sought remedies on domestic level on two occasions, but the Ministry of Environment took no action.
