While Western Balkan governments scramble to solve their energy and waste crises by turning to incineration, a clear lesson is emerging from the EU: burning waste is a dead end. 🔥 What are the lessons learned for the Western Balkans?

Sofia’s burned lesson: bankwatch.org/blog/sofia-s...

5 years into the EU's Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, it’s had limited results on the ground. With a new Action Plan endorsed in Oct., our blog examines whether civil society proposals were taken into account, and whether the revised plan can inject new dynamism. bankwatch.org/blog/with-a-...

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...

It’s time for the EBRD and KfW to stop expansion of wood burning and the governments of Serbia and BiH not to subsidise unsustainable biomass. To understand the scale of biomass use in the Western Balkans, explore the map prepared by Biofuelwatch and Bankwatch's report: bankwatch.org/publication/...

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.

Check out our new briefing on gas plans in the #WesternBalkans.

Governments are fossil-fooling people that gas is the fuel of the future, but this couldn't be further from the truth.

The EU and other international donors need to send clearer messages: no new fossil fuels, cut to a clean future!

Serbia’s dependence on imported fossil gas has brought the district heating sector to its knees. And by keeping gas heating for homes cheaper, the government is applying even more pressure on the sector, writes @natasa-green.bsky.social: bankwatch.org/blog/serbia-...

Montenegro is touted as the lead EU accession candidate these days, but it’s unfortunately far from ready. The country’s new national spatial plan, currently in the Parliament, is a prime example. NGOs are calling for a freeze to allow proper consultations to be held.

bankwatch.org/blog/montene...

🚨OUR NEW ‘COMPLY OR CLOSE’ REPORT IS OUT🚨 The end of 2024 marked 7 years since coal power plants in the Western Balkans had to meet new air pollution standards.

www.complyorclose.org

68 civil society organisations have today issued a joint statement calling on the EU to ensure dedicated funds for environmental protection and just transition of coal-dependent regions in the Western Balkans in the new EU budget.
Read more: bankwatch.org/publication/...
#GAWBNavigator

📈 As emissions rise and heating prices spike, energy efficiency at scale can make a real difference. The energy services company (ESCO) model, trialled in Serbia for several years now, has the potential to drive energy savings, writes @natasa-green.bsky.social : bankwatch.org/blog/unlocki...

Plinovod u BiH ,,južna interkonekcija” – mnogo vike ni za šta

6yka.com/bih/plinovod...

Montenegro's 🇲🇪 government seems to have taken leave of its senses, signing a memorandum with UAE for a mega-tourism monstrosity on its stunning 12-km Velika Plaža beach near Ulcinj.

To support the groups fighting against it, please sign this petition: www.change.org/p/stop-devas...

Far from making a comeback, Europe's coal phase-out is accelerating. But Western Balkan governments are still in denial. Plans for a just transition need to be made now!

📘 Boom & Bust Coal 2025 by @globalenergymon.bsky.social : globalenergymonitor.org/report/boom-...

Still waiting to see how the prefeasibility studies for biomass-based #districtheating projects, such as the EBRD’s TE Tuzla 3 coal-to-biomass conversion in BiH and KfW’s studies for ten towns in Serbia, will justify burning biomass.

bankwatch.org/publication/...

🚨 The Western Balkan countries’ Reform Agendas include environmentally damaging investment projects, including gas pipelines. Yet the @ec.europa.eu still approved them. Together with @caneurope.bsky.social, we’ve asked for a formal review.

📰 Read more: bankwatch.org/press_release/

Several #WesternBalkan governments have proven to be willing accomplices in Azerbaijan’s abuse of #COP29. But will the EU act to defend climate integrity in the region?

Read more in our new blog post bankwatch.org/blog/western...