CC: @rescoop.eu @ejni.bsky.social

🤔 In the middle of a new energy crisis, how are governments choosing to spend public money? The negotiations around the next multi-year EU budget have started.
👀 Out of 17 analysed Member States, only 5 have set up a working group for stakeholder consultation: bankwatch.org/publication/...

T&E is joining 30 European NGOs, including Oxfam, WWF and CAN Europe, in calling on the EU to tax excess oil profits.

Once again, drivers’ pain is Big Oil’s gain. Instead of governments putting the burden on taxpayers, it’s time that oil companies pay up.

Read the full letter here ➡️ bit.ly/483cz6y

4/ 👉 Dedicated and traceable investment targets for nature restoration
👉 A strong, stand-alone LIFE programme
👉 Proper enforcement of the 'do no significant harm' principle
Nature can’t compete with everything else in the budget – it needs dedicated support.

3/ But here’s the catch:
Without strong, ring-fenced funding for biodiversity, the failing state of nature risks being sidelined by the competing priorities of EU Member States. At a time of accelerating biodiversity loss, Europe needs:

2/This is an important step forward as negotiations on the next EU budget intensify.
For over 30 years, LIFE has delivered – protecting species, restoring habitats and supporting the Natura 2000 network.

1/Some hope for nature – but we’re not there yet.

In yesterday’s vote by the @europarl.europa.eu’s Committee on Budgets, EU lawmakers signalled support for the future of the LIFE programme – the EU’s only dedicated funding tool for environment and biodiversity.

Rebuilding for resilience: Energy-efficient home renovations in Hungary YouTube video by Bankwatch

🎬 Our video shows how Hungarian citizens are already improving their lives through insulation, modern heating and solar panels, supported by EU and national programmes. Their stories illustrate what becomes possible when funding is accessible and well‑targeted. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY5e...

Hungary might be entering a period of major change, with new govt. reviewing environmentally harmful projects, expanding renewable 🔋, and unlocking significant EU 💸. These commitments could create opportunities for households, especially the 3.85 million families living in energy‑inefficient 🏠.

CC: @forumenergii.bsky.social , @caneurope.org , @thegreentank.bsky.social @feps-europe.eu , @germanwatch.bsky.social , @wwf.eu

4/🔎Explore the full report and country chapters: bankwatch.org/wp-content/u...

3/❗At the same time, transition goes beyond the funding cycle, and its impacts will continue well beyond 2027. The experiences of the analysed countries offer significant insight into how the EU can continue supporting regions undergoing transition in the decades to come.

2/ The analysis shows that the fund has already played a crucial role in helping regions navigate economic transformation, build trust among local communities and encourage local ownership.

1/🤔To be or not to be continued?

Our new report with Forum Energii explores this question in the context of the Just Transition Fund and its impact in Czechia, Germany, Greece, Poland, Romania and Spain.

bankwatch.org/wp-content/u...

2/2...mainstreams nature priorities across the entire budget, leverages the potential of the NRPPs to deliver on the Nature Restoration Law, and enforces the ‘do no significant harm’ principle to prevent harmful projects.

An EU budget that prioritises nature financing is urgently needed‼️

1/2On Wednesday, the @europarl.europa.eu's Committee on Budgets votes on its draft interim report on the next EU budget. We’re calling once again for a nature-focused budget that saves the LIFE programme, sets a 10% biodiversity spending target to help close the funding gap...
@euronatur.bsky.social

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🔥 Webinar alert!
Beyond Burning: Finland’s rapid shift in district heating

📅 21 April
⏰ 16:00–17:30 CEST

Finland is transforming its heating system – with up to 26% already coming from non-combustion sources. 🧵👇

#EUSky #EnviroSky #EnergySky #GreenSky

🔗 tinyurl.com/ydppp8hn

Happy to contribute the 4,000th signature to the call for continuing the #LIFE Programm in the future #EUBudget. Because nature is life & life must go on. Please sign too with @change.org! cc @birdlifeeurope.bsky.social @ceebankwatch.bsky.social @euronatur.bsky.social @wwf.eu! 📝 c.org/tZR9TMgWZz

Functioning grievance mechanisms are key to protecting human rights and promoting climate justice in development projects!

🔎 Read our Corridor Vc case study here: bankwatch.org/publication/...

The EIB Group Complaints Mechanism (EIB-CM) can and should do better‼️ We’ve been banging the drum for years, and the Corridor Vc case is just one of the reasons why.

With the EIB-CM currently under review, we’re calling for urgent reform.

EIB Group Complaints Mechanism ineffective in addressing complaints submitted in relation to the Budapest Airport expansion project - Bankwatch In this case study, we lay bare inefficiencies of the EIB and EBRD grievance mechanisms using a real-life example – the Budapest Airport Expansion Project – and make recommendations for the next revie...

📢 That’s why we’re calling for urgent reform. A functioning grievance mechanism is key to protecting human rights and promoting climate justice in development projects!

Read our Budapest Airport case study here: bankwatch.org/publication/...

🧐 The EIB Group Complaints Mechanism (EIB-CM) is currently under review. When formulating its new policy, the @eib.org must learn lessons from the development projects that have harmed the environment and local communities – cases where the mechanism has proven ineffective.
ℹ️👇

Hands Off Nature – Defend Europe’s Forests, Rivers & Wildlife Stop the dismantling of European environmental protections. Stand up for forests, wildlife, clean air, and safe water - our nature depends on it.

👉Sign also the #HandsOffNature petition: handsoffnature.eu#take-action

If we allow weakening of these rules, it will have significant impact on nature and people. It will cause more pollution and harm for nature.

💧 🔴 Protect EU water policy! Add your comments in the Call for Evidence for the revision of the Water Framework Directive: ec.europa.eu/info/law/bet...

❗ Europe’s water is at risk. As the 🌊 of weakening EU nature protection laws is sweeping the EU, now EU water policy is targeted.

The Water Framework Directive, in place since 2000, is a cornerstone law to protect and improve water quality in Europe.

3/ Our speakers – Pippa Gallop from Bankwatch, Matej Vucić from the University of Zagreb and Vladimir Topić from the Center for the Environment – outlined the current state of the project, its likely impacts, what has been done so far and what can be done to stop it.

2/ In an area that largely relies on agriculture fed by the river Neretva, the diversion of water to the Trebišnjica basin would spell increased salination and the end of the region's main livelihood.

1/ On Wednesday, we held a public event in Opuzen in Croatia's Neretva delta, on the dangers posed by the Upper Horizons hydropower complex and what can be done to prevent them.

At a time when recent conflicts have driven up energy prices globally, continued investment in gas and hydrogen infrastructure, often reliant on imported fossil fuels, risks perpetuating old vulnerabilities. 💥

Read our open letter: www.foodandwatereurope.org/blogs/tell-t...