CEE Bankwatch Network and Climate Action Network Europe (CAN Europe) called for a review of the European Commission’s decision to approve the reform agendas of five Western Balkan countries under the new ‘Reform and Growth Facility’ on Tuesday 14 January.
The two NGOs argue that the reforms presented by Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia do not comply with two environmental guarantees that must be met in order to access the Facility’s funds: the absence of significant damage to the environment and the exclusion of fossil fuels.
For example, according to CAN Europe and the CEE Bankwatch Network, the reform agendas of Serbia and North Macedonia include gas pipelines and fossil fuel power/heating plants among the proposed investment projects.
In addition, the Kruševo hydroelectric power station in Montenegro and motorway construction projects in sensitive areas are likely, according to the NGOs, to cause serious damage to the environment. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)