Bankwatch

Towards a just transition in the national and regional partnership plans: Recommendations on regional chapters

Dora Crnčević — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:03:11 +0200

From 1 January 2028, the EU will operate under a new budgetary framework in which the four existing cohesion policy funds will be merged into a single national and regional partnership plan (NRPP) for each Member State. The current legal framework for the NRPPs is set out in the European Commission’s Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Fund for Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion, Agriculture and Rural, Fisheries and Maritime, Prosperity and Security (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Proposal’), together with the Template for the National and Regional Partnership Plan contained in Annex V to the Proposal. According to Article 21 of the Proposal, the NRPPs may include regional and territorial chapters, ‘where relevant’, but their inclusion is not obligatory. This briefing highlights, if Europe is to maintain its strength and competitiveness, its key industrial regions must not become ‘blank spots’ on the map, mired in decline and continued dependence on outdated, unprofitable sectors of the economy. The only way to avoid this path is to ensure that the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework provides adequate funding for the regions concerned – funding that is targeted, well-planned, and placed in the hands of local authorities and communities, with state support where necessary.

Briefing to the EIB Board on Rogun Hydropower Project in Tajikistan

Michaela Kozminova — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 11:51:31 +0200

The Rogun Hydropower Project in Tajikistan raises serious concerns regarding freshwater ecosystems, the resettlement of 60,000 people, regional water security and human rights within the context of severely restricted civic space. As the European Investment Bank (EIB) is appraising the project, civil society groups are calling on the EIB's Board of Directors to ensure compliance with the Bank's Environmental and Social Standards and relevant EU standards.

Unlocking nature financing: National cost estimates for effective nature restoration

Gosia Zubowicz — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:40:09 +0200

Two years after the adoption of the Nature Restoration Regulation, EU Member States are now working on their national restoration plans. One element will be crucial for their successful implementation: adequate funding. To support national planning, CEE Bankwatch Network and EuroNatur, in cooperation with national partners, led a study in five Member States – Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Hungary and Croatia – to estimate financing needs for effective nature restoration.

Mixed signals from the European Commission: Undermining housing affordability and the energy transition in central and eastern Europe

Dora Crnčević — Fri, 29 May 2026 11:25:37 +0200

This briefing highlights the potential impacts of two recent EU policy developments that could significantly affect the energy transformation within the building sector in central and eastern Europe: the European Affordable Housing Plan and the outcomes of the European Commission’s mid-term review of EU cohesion policy funds. The publication also presents several successful examples from central and eastern Europe where energy efficiency is driving building renovations, effectively mitigating the impacts of the current housing crisis. The examples shared in this briefing aim to empower and encourage a wide range of stakeholders, including members of cohesion policy funds monitoring committees, public administrations, citizens, civil society organisations, and governmental or non-governmental organisations involved in implementing forthcoming calls or amended operational programmes by helping them make informed, strategic decisions when designing funding calls, eligibility rules and selection criteria that integrate housing solutions with energy efficiency.

North Macedonia’s waste reform: Two steps forward, one step back

Michaela Kozminova — Wed, 27 May 2026 10:57:39 +0200

This briefing summarises the findings of a fact-finding mission conducted by CEE Bankwatch Network in February 2026 in Skopje and Novaci to assess waste management reform in North Macedonia.

Bankwatch’s comments on the EBRD Project Accountability Policy and Independent Project Accountability Mechanism

Michaela Kozminova — Mon, 25 May 2026 16:08:56 +0200

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is currently revising its Project Accountability Policy. In this context, Bankwatch is calling for a stronger policy framework that includes clear provisions for remedying harm, enhanced monitoring of management action plans, and safe access to the Bank’s accountability mechanism. This issue paper has been prepared for the EBRD Annual Meeting 2026.

Living next to MHP: Five years of community monitoring reveal worsening water crisis in Ukraine’s Vinnytsia region

Michaela Kozminova — Mon, 25 May 2026 16:01:28 +0200

Over the past five years, civil society has been monitoring the deterioration of water quality and availability in Ukraine’s Vinnytsia region, where MHP operates large-scale poultry production facilities. This issue paper has been prepared for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's (EBRD) Annual Meeting 2026.

Boom and Bust Coal 2026

Ana Kuzmanić — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:00:35 +0200

Boom and Bust Coal is an annual survey of the global coal fleet by Global Energy Monitor and partners. The report analyses key trends in coal power capacity and tracks various stages of capacity development including planned retirements. This provides key insights into the status of the global phaseout of coal power and evaluates progress towards the world’s climate targets and commitments. The data come from GEM’s Global Coal Plant Tracker, an online database updated biannually that identifies and maps every known coal-fired generating unit and every new unit proposed since January 1, 2010 (30 MW and larger).

Civil Society Comments on the Draft New Policy of EIB Group Complaints Mechanism

Michaela Kozminova — Tue, 19 May 2026 15:15:06 +0200

In May 2026, 21 civil society organisations submitted joint comments on the draft new policy of the EIB Group Complaints Mechanism. Among other things, we called for a clear mandate and capacity to facilitate effective remedy, stronger independence and improved transparency and predictability. You can also read a summary of the comments here.

Hydrogen buses in Poland: Where did it all go wrong?

Gosia Zubowicz — Mon, 18 May 2026 09:00:45 +0200

In Poland, hydrogen-powered public transport – including refuelling stations and hydrogen production projects for transport – has been established almost exclusively through substantial public funding. However, projects that have already been suspended, cancelled or failed for financial reasons raise questions about whether the sector can survive in a market-driven environment.

The main aim of this report is to highlight the major issues faced by Polish local authorities and public transport operators that have adopted hydrogen-powered buses as part of their decarbonisation efforts, and are now struggling with prohibitive costs, fuel unavailability and challenges caused by market immaturity.

The publication presents several case studies from Poland and offers recommendations on how to avoid the costly mistakes observed in the development of hydrogen-based public transport in Poland.

This publication is also available in Polish.