From a grassroots to the international level …
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.
FOCUS AREAS
INSTITUTIONS WE MONITOR
OUR PROJECTS
District heating
District heating and individual heating are still dominated by fossil fuels and inefficient burning of wood without regard to sustainability criteria, in combination with a low degree of energy efficiency. This has to change, since heating plays a crucial role in the transition into a clean and zero-carbon economy.
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The Khada Valley, Georgia
The Khada Valley in Georgia brings together exceptional biodiversity, precious cultural and archeological heritage, and mountainous villages which have preserved rich traditions and historical lifestyles. But all of this might vanish if a 23-kilometer road from Georgia to Russia – the Kvesheti-Kobi project – is built.
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Minerals mining and supply chains
Global demand for minerals and other critical raw materials is intensified by the just transition to renewable energy and the digital transformation agenda. Therefore sustainable supply chains of minerals are fundamental to addressing the climate crisis and the Covid-19 crisis that humanity is facing today. The European Union needs to innovate and find solutions to achieve its circular economy and resource use reduction objectives and to meet the demand of EU’s industry and consumers, while still protecting communities and nature threatened by mining.
Read morePublications
Assessment of Bulgaria’s recovery and resilience plan
Briefing | 21 May, 2021 | Download PDFThis briefing provides an overview of Bulgaria’s proposed measures (as of 16 April) for spending funds from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. Although the plan proposes some positive measures for the environment and climate, it also includes i
Building back biodiversity: How EU Member States fail to spend the recovery fund for nature
study | 20 May, 2021 | Download PDFThis report brings together assessments of the national recovery and resilience plans of ten central and eastern European (CEE) countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia). It outli
Eight steps for a just transition in the Western Balkans
briefing | 18 May, 2021 | Download PDFEight steps for a just transition aims to encourage national campaigners, civil movements, and local activists to begin the just transition process in their communities. Based on Bankwatch’s experience working with just transition countries in central
Assessment of the Czech Republic’s recovery and resilience plan
Briefing | 7 May, 2021 | Download PDFThis briefing provides an overview of the Czech Republic’s proposed measures (as of 9 April) for spending funds from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. The Czech recovery plan includes a number of measures supporting the energy efficiency and d
Assessment of Hungary’s recovery and resilience plan
Briefing | 29 April, 2021 | Download PDFThis briefing provides an overview of Hungary’s proposed measures (as of 1 April) for spending funds from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. Although Hungary’s draft recovery and resilience plan does not directly finance fossil fuels, it does n
