From a grassroots to the international level …
We’re the largest network of grassroots, environmental and human rights groups in central and eastern Europe.
We monitor public finance institutions that are responsible for hundreds of billions of investments across the globe. The banks and funds we watch are often obscure but always important entities that function outside public scrutiny.
Together with local communities and other NGOs we work to expose their influence and provide a counterbalance to their unchecked power. We investigate the impacts of public finance, work with affected communities and local organisations across the world and help them protect their rights and livelihoods. We make sure their stories are being told in Europe’s power centers.
We regularly meet representatives of the institutions we monitor and we’re in Brussels, too, doing our bit to make Europe a fairer, cleaner and sustainable place.
Alternative news
We expose the risks of international public finance and bring critical updates from the ground.
We believe that the billions of public money should work for people and the environment.
CAMPAIGN AREAS
INSTITUTIONS WE MONITOR
OUR PROJECTS
Skavica hydropower plant, Albania
Instead of increasing its energy security, Albania is pushing the construction of yet more hydropower. The Skavica project may flood several villages, displace thousands of people and bring the Balkan lynx to extinction
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The Reconstruction of Ukraine
The scale of destruction caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has been staggering. To repair the damage, joint efforts to coordinate donations and properly plan Ukraine’s reconstruction must start as soon as possible. A successful reconstruction of Ukraine cannot happen without involvement of the Ukrainian people. That’s why we’re calling on international donors to ensure that the financial structures to help impacted communities are put in place and that civil society groups have a say in this process. We believe that Ukraine and the international community have a unique opportunity to modernise the country while addressing people’s needs and long-term sustainability.
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After recovery towards cohesion
For the first time, the EU climate ambition is backed by an unprecedented financial package. The recovery and cohesion policy funds are planned to be two major components to accelerate the energy transition and reach towards climate neutrality by 2050. Bankwatch makes sure these EU funds support transformative and sustainable investments that advance energy consumption reduction, sustainable renewables and smart grids, ideally owned by communities.
Read morePublications
Briefing for the EIB Board on the Budapest Airport expansion project
Briefing | 2 May, 2023 | Download PDFThis briefing shows how this EIB-financed project continues to violate the fundamental rights of residents, which are enshrined by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
Civil society seminar: Recommendations for EIB Global
Briefing | 2 May, 2023 | Download PDFThis briefing summarises recommendations formulated by civil society to guide the future operations of EIB Global.
Joint civil society letter: Creating a truly Paris-aligned EIB
Advocacy letter | 2 May, 2023 | Download PDFThe Fossil Free EIB coalition wrote a joint letter to the European Investment Bank (EIB) to express its views on the upcoming review of the EIB Climate Bank Roadmap.
The reconstruction of Ukraine: lessons from the post-war recovery in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia
Briefing | 14 April, 2023 | Download PDFThis briefing analyses the lessons learned from the post war reconstruction in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia and how they can be considered during Ukraine’s reconstruction.
CEE Bankwatch Network position on the AIIB’s Energy Sector
Position | 13 April, 2023 | Download PDFCEE Bankwatch expresses its deep disappointment in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s (AIIB) call for public consultation on its Energy Sector Strategy Update.
