30 years of Bankwatch: Reflecting on the past, present and future

In this anniversary episode, we celebrate 30 years of Bankwatch – a network founded in 1995 to push for public investments that truly benefit people and the environment in central and eastern Europe.  Fidanka Bacheva-McGrath, Mark Martin and Petr Hlobil look back at the early days and what inspired them to become Bankwatchers, the challenges they’ve faced and the impact the network has had over the decades. They also explore today’s pressing issues, from shrinking civic space to the need for sustainable and inclusive solutions.  Tune in to hear their reflections on Bankwatch’s journey to date, the lessons they’ve learned, and their hopes for the future. 

Miskolc, a city in northeastern Hungary, has already made huge strides towards decarbonisation. Now, with the help of the Friends of the Earth Hungary, the city is developing various community energy projects to build on this momentum. In the latest episode of our ‘decarbonisation roadmap’ podcast series, we speak with our just transition campaigner, Alexa Botar, about Miskolc’s community energy potential. 

Tsarkva, a neighbourhood in the just transition city of Pernik, Bulgaria, has a unique opportunity to realise the full potential of renewable energy for heating and cooling. In the latest episode of our ‘decarbonisation roadmap’ podcast series, we speak with our just transition campaigner, Ventzeslava Kojouharova, about the most viable solutions and how Pernik can lead Bulgaria’s decarbonisation journey.    

Ida-Virumaa, Estonia’s just transition region, is in a unique position to embrace community energy and become a pioneer in the field. But is the region realising its potential? Listen to our latest podcast episode of ‘decarbonisation roadmap’ series as we discuss the challenges of community energy development and how they can be overcome with Kertu Laherand, our just transition campaigner from the Estonian Green Movement.  

How can municipalities in just transition regions ramp up their decarbonisation efforts? With the help of Dan Dobre – our just transition campaigner and the author of a report comparing municipal decarbonisation strategies in nine central and eastern European just transition regions we discuss the challenges and opportunities for these communities. Listen to our first podcast episode in the ‘Decarbonisation roadmap’ series.

Three years after Russia's invasion, we examine Ukraine's reconstruction roadmap through its Single Project Pipeline, exploring how $486 billion in recovery funds will shape the nation's future.

In December 2024, the Bern Convention set a new target for expanding the Emerald Network. The purpose of the network is to preserve endangered species and habitats throughout Europe by designating and managing protected areas called Emerald sites.   However, widening the network in some areas has proved challenging. For example, important river stretches, especially in the Western Balkans, are still not protected.   In this episode, Andrey Ralev and Friedrich Wulf discuss the challenges and opportunities for nature protection in different parts of Europe.

Our latest podcast episode explores the future of the just transition in the EU. Is the just transition a priority for the new European Commission? What’s next for the Just Transition Fund? These and more questions will be answered by our guests Miłosława Stępień, just transition coordinator at CEE Bankwatch Network, and Mags Bird, senior policy officer for the just transition at the WWF European Policy Office.  

Gender-based violence and harassment on public transport is a serious but under-researched issue. In cities such as Tbilisi, Sarajevo and Belgrade, overcrowding and inefficient transport systems increase the vulnerability of women and gender minorities.  In this podcast episode, we bring together experts and civil society members from our recent webinar to discuss the challenges and propose solutions for tackling gender-based violence on public transport. 

Over the past decades, Bankwatch with its civil society partners have been monitoring the development projects financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Our experience has shown that the Bank’s existing approach to human rights due diligence does not effectively prevent human rights violations.   As the Bank is revising its good governance policies, it has a unique opportunity to change this and lead the way in improving human rights due diligence among development banks. In this episode, Nina Lesikhina (CEE Bankwatch Network), Mark Fodor (Defenders in Development) and Megan Pearson (Accountability Counsel) share their insights about what is wrong with the EBRD policies and what needs to change.