Home >> Our Work >> Energy lending in south-eastern Europe

Energy lending in south-eastern Europe

South-eastern Europe is riddled with poor planning and corruption in the energy sector and its governments are proving slow to react to the challenges and opportunities offered by the decarbonisation agenda.


Above: planned coal power plants in south-eastern Europe

This should be an opportunity for international lenders like the EBRD, the EIB and the World Bank to promote energy efficiency and sustainable renewables to shift the region's energy sectors towards lower carbon emissions.

So far, however, it is only happening in a few positive exceptions as our study and the projects that we monitor show.

Infographic
The damaging Projects of Energy Community Interest (click to see full size)

Note: This infographic is out of date. It contains projects that were not accepted as priority projects. For comparison, see the final list of approved PECIs.

The European Energy Community

The European Energy Community was established between the EU and a number of third countries in order to extend the EU internal energy market to south-eastern Europe and beyond. (Members include the EU, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Moldova, Kosovo, plus Ukraine.)

The Community's priority projects, however, are set to include several environmentally damaging coal and hydropower projects that will be fast-tracked for financing over the next years.

Read more:
Dirty power plants in Europe's Neighbourhood set to become EU priority
Press release | October 22, 2013

Western Balkans and Ukraine: EC-backed Energy Community to prioritise coal plants that threaten EU long-term climate targets (pdf)
Briefing | October 22, 2013

 

 

Related news

[Campaign update] EBRD confirms negative impacts of Albanian hydropower plants on people and the environment
Blog entry | September 20, 2017

It’s been a hot summer all over the Balkans. A heatwave called Lucifer struck Albania, drying up its river and causing numerous forest fires. Since Albania relies 90% on hydropower for its electricity, the drought resulted in a significant drop in production, forcing Albania to import 80 percent of it electricity.

EBRD
Energy & climate
Balkans, drought, EU neighbourhood, hydropower, irrigation, locals impacts, Rapuni, Ternove
Balkan governments unprepared for new EU pollution rules
Blog entry | August 17, 2017

New EU rules entering into force today, to limit pollution from power plants, will also apply in most Western Balkan countries. But the region’s governments are so far acting like they don’t exist.

Chinese investors
Export credit agencies
Energy & climate
Balkans
air pollution, BalkanCoal, Balkans, BREF, coal, EU
Guest post: A win for citizen activism after UNESCO asks Macedonia to stop all construction projects on Lake Ohrid
Blog entry | June 27, 2017

After a field visit to the Lake Ohrid in Macedonia, the UNESCO requested the Macedonian government to halt construction projects in the area, one of which is supported by the European Bank For Reconstruction and Development.

EBRD
Transport
Other harmful projects
Balkans, biodiversity, EU neighbourhood, Lake Ohrid, roads, success, UNESCO
[Campaign update] EU urged to act on Western Balkans smog after alarming pollution levels were found
Blog entry | June 26, 2017

Results of more than half a year of independent air pollution monitoring in the Balkans have been launched today. During a conference at the European Parliament, MEPs, European Commission and Energy Community representatives, NGOs and citizens groups called for urgent action on air pollution in the Western Balkans.

Chinese investors
Export credit agencies
Energy & climate
Social & economic impacts
air pollution, Balkans, Bas Eickhout, coal, Energy Community, EU neighbourhood, European Parliament, Francois Wakenhut, Greens/EFA, HEAL, health, PM 10, PM 2.5
Western Balkans holds breath for better air quality
Blog entry | June 26, 2017

In the Western Balkans, air pollution can be a fatal problem, made worse by some of those countries’ energy policies. Ioana Ciuta sheds light on the region’s developing crisis, which is claiming lives at an alarming rate.

Chinese investors
Export credit agencies
Energy & climate
Social & economic impacts
air pollution, Balkans, coal, EU neighbourhood, health, PM 10, PM 2.5, WHO

China in the Western Balkans

China has risen to become a major player in the dam building business and is appearing ever more frequently in central and eastern Europe.

Read more:
Doing more than just spotting the elephant: a new resource for campaigning on China, dams and finance
Blog post | November 27, 2012

 

Report on lending figures

Download the report

More publications

Connect with us online

Facebook   Twitter   YouTube   RSS feed