CEE Bankwatch Network

An image depicting a red carpet leading to grey, old power plant with a shiny neon sign on it 'Hydrogen ready'. At the bottom of the image, a text reads: No fossil gas hydrogen can be a Project of Common Interest.

🚨Hydrogen-hype klaxon!
Dozens of fossil gas-based hydrogen projects could soon receive EU priority status, threatening to derail Europe’s energy transition.
Read a new open letter from 34 civil society groups on the next Projects of Common Interest list: bankwatch.org/publication/...

An image depicting a red carpet leading to grey, old power plant with a shiny neon sign on it 'Hydrogen ready'. At the bottom of the image, a text reads: No fossil gas hydrogen can be a Project of Common Interest.

🚨Hydrogen-hype klaxon!
Dozens of fossil gas-based hydrogen projects could soon receive EU priority status, threatening to derail Europe’s energy transition.
Read a new open letter from 34 civil society groups on the next Projects of Common Interest list: bankwatch.org/publication/...

At last week’s @eib.org civil society seminar, we raised alarms over Corridor Vc in Bosnia and Herzegovina – a project marred by stalled works, forced expropriations and threats to ecosystems in a national park proposed for protection. Read more: bankwatch.org/publication/...

As the Berlin Process Leaders’ Summit begins in London, 67 CSOs have shared feedback about the 2025 process.
Time to move beyond symbolic participation and strengthen civil society’s role.
How? 📖 bankwatch.org/wp-content/u...

@beyondfossilfuels.bsky.social

The Just Transition Culture event took place in Eastern Wielkopolska in Poland on 21-25 June 2025. It was organised by activists and artists from three European just transition regions: Eastern Wielkopolska in Poland, Western Macedonia in Greece and Jiu Valley in Romania. The activities included art Just Transition Culture - Art and activism in transitioning regions

🤔 How can art play a role in bringing just transition communities together?

In June, activists and artists from just transition regions in Poland, Greece & Romania assembled in Konin to find out! This is their story.

The Buk Bijela dam on the upper Drina raises major environmental, legal & financial red flags. Closed bids from Chinese firms and a flawed EIA put the river’s future at risk. It’s a risky project putting profits over nature.
📢 Stop Buk Bijela! bankwatch.org/stopbu...

⚠ Across the region, legislation to prevent burning healthy wood from biodiverse forests is falling behind, while at the same time 58 percent of total woody biomass consumption comes from… | CEE Bankw... ⚠ Across the region, legislation to prevent burning healthy wood from biodiverse forests is falling behind, while at the same time 58 percent of total woody biomass consumption comes from unregistered...

Blog article by @ceebankwatch.bsky.social highlights the growing threats and impacts of #BigBadBiomass in West Balkan region. With a link to our map of biomass and pellet plants (also below). www.linkedin.com/posts/cee-ba...

The just transition has led to significant changes across the EU. Today, at the #JustTransitionPlatform, Miłosława Stępień highlighted the importance of continued support and dedicated funding for regions. ‘Leaving no one behind’ should not expire with the end of the EU’s current long-term budget!

⚠️ EIB-backed roads in Georgia reveal deep flaws: forced expropriations, no consultations, unsafe work, and the exclusion of ethnic minorities and women.
The @eib.org must act now to protect rights & uphold EU values.
📜 Read our new briefing: bankwatch.org/publication/...

1/2 The @ifcorg.bsky.social and its client failed to consult Ukrainian residents affected by pig farms run by the IFC-financed Danish company Axzon (now Goodvalley), according to an IFC ombudsman report released today. ⬆️

Ukraine: Axzon-01/Halych and Kalush | Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO)

2/2 Eleven years after their complaint was filed, the IFC’s inaction raises serious accountability concerns. ‼️https://www.cao-ombudsman.org/case/ukraine-axzon-01halych-and-kalush

💬 If the EU is to lead on global development, its bank must do more than just talk about it. EIB Global must ensure transparency, human rights safeguards and alignment with EU values across all its global operations.
✉️ Read our letter to the @eib.org Board: bankwatch.org/publication/...

CC: @beyondfossilfuels.bsky.social

🧐 How can art play a role in bringing just transition communities together?
Join us on 21 X for the 5th Just Transition Platform, where we’ll be launching our new video – Just Transition Culture – Art and Activism in the Transitioning Regions'.

📽️ Watch live from 22 October!

2/2 🔜ℹ️ Our upcoming briefing shows how EU funds can turn waste into value in CEE. Stay tuned! 👀

1/2 #WorldFoodDay reminder 🍽️: Food waste isn’t only about lost meals, it also generates pollution and methane when burned or landfilled. Instead, separate collection & composting could cut emissions, restore soils & boost circularity.

Time to fix the Modernisation Fund: Stop climate money for dirty energy - Bankwatch With a lending portfolio of EUR 72 billion (2010) the European Investment Bank (EIB) is one of the world's biggest public lending institution – bigger even than the World Bank.

👁️ For more on the Modernisation Fund’s dirty energy spending: bankwatch.org/modernisatio...

Governments are eyeing over EUR 3 billion in EU climate money for fossil gas and other harmful energy sources.
Some dubious investments – from gas pipelines to nuclear power plants – could be financed by the Modernisation Fund as soon as December. 🙅
Read our briefing: bankwatch.org/publication/...

🚫 #StopBukBijela – protect the Drina & Piva rivers! Despite legal challenges, Republika Srpska is pushing ahead with the Buk Bijela dam, Montenegro – with Kruševo. No dams on the upper Drina! 🔗 bankwatch.org/stopbukbijela

Footage: Ante Gugić, moremedia.hr, Robert Oroz

CC: @euronatur.bsky.social @otop-birdlife.bsky.social @foehungary-mtvsz.bsky.social

In July, the European Commission published a proposal for a new post 2027 EU budget.

🚨 Nature is left behind with no dedicated fund and no biodiversity targets.

🔍 Read more about gaps in the next EU budget: bankwatch.org/publication/...

2/2 51 civil society organisations have therefore written to the Regional Cooperation Council. Read more here: bankwatch.org/wp-content/u...

1/2 The revised Green Agenda Action Plan is expected to be adopted or endorsed at the Dubrovnik Summit this week, on 14 to 15 October.

But in spite of repeated promises, no public consultation has been held on the Plan.

🤔 What could possibly go wrong as the @ebrd.bsky.social backs one of its most controversial clients in one of Europe’s most troubled democracies? Indorama’s Rustavi Azot project in Georgia raises red flags for labour, the environment & accountability.
Read more: bankwatch.org/blog/ebrd-s-...

4/At the meeting, several Balkan countries expressed strong interest in developing the Emerald network, but unfortunately did not commit to specific deadlines for submitting new sites.
🗺️Explore our proposal for new sites that must be protected to halt biodiversity loss:
bankwatch.org/project/emer...

3/💧 The Balkan region’s rivers and lakes are particular biodiversity hotspots, home to 69 endemic fish species – yet many remain at risk.

2/ At the 15th meeting of the Bern Convention’s expert group on protected areas in Montenegro, we participated in a discussion on how to expand the network. More protected sites are urgently needed to safeguard threatened species and habitats.

1/🌿 The Emerald Network is a vital ecological network of protected areas across Europe – helping to safeguard threatened species and natural habitats.

How can Ukraine’s recovery align with climate neutrality? Join experts, policymakers & civil society for 4 tracks on policy, construction, land use & green investment.

📅 17–18 Oct 2025
📍 Lviv, Ukraine | in-person & online

🔗 docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...