The Good, the Bad and the Grey of EU-funded Investments
In June 2023, CEE Bankwatch Network launched a database of EU-funded investments in nine countries across Central, Eastern and Southern Europe. The purpose of the database is to monitor the use and impact of EU funds in driving the energy transition in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.
Covering the EU’s 2021-2027 programming period, the database provides information on over 100 projects across various categories, including energy efficiency, energy communities, energy poverty and biodiversity. These projects are classified as positive, negative, or grey based on whether their environmental impacts are beneficial, harmful or a mixture of both.
Updated on a regular basis, the database is a valuable resource for policymakers seeking to replicate environmentally sustainable investments while avoiding those that are detrimental to the environment. With infographics highlighting best practices across the four categories, the database serves as a helpful guide for those interested in understanding how EU funds can be best used to support Europe’s green transition.
Since its launch, the database has proved as an important source of information during advocacy meetings at the EU and national level, facilitating research and communication on both successful and problematic projects. As the implementation phase of the EU’s long-term budget begins, it is hoped that the database will shape policy debates across Europe and help decisionmakers choose the investments needed to achieve climate neutrality in the EU by 2050.