News
Monthly National Update: March
March developments across partner countries were strongly influenced by elections, rising energy prices, and ongoing debates around ETS2, with governments and civil society responding in different ways. In Hungary, the pre-election period ahead of 12 April has intensified political focus on fuel price caps, energy security, and affordability. Civil society has remained active through policy […]
Monthly National Update: February
Across Latvia, Bulgaria, Poland, Slovenia, and Romania, progress on key EU climate and social policy instruments—particularly ETS2, Social Climate Plans (SCPs), and NECPs—remains uneven and closely tied to national political and funding dynamics. In Latvia, preparations continue, but a notable policy shift is underway as Green Public Procurement moves from mandatory to voluntary criteria. Civil […]
Delaying EU carbon pricing means delaying support for citizens, civil society organisations say
A coalition of the European Environmental Bureau and civil society organisations from Latvia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania has warned the governments of EU Member States that postponing the EU’s new emissions trading system for buildings and road transport (ETS2) from 2027 to 2028 will increase social inequality, delay financial support for citizens, and […]
Open Letter to the Governments of EU Member States
Proposal to avoid environmental, social, and economic damage due to the postponement of ETS2 We are a consortium of civil society organisations partnering in the EUKI-financed project ClimateFair Monitor: Towards climate-neutral buildings and road transport. We express our serious concerns about the postponement of ETS2 (the EU emission trading system for buildings and road transport) […]
Monthly National Update: January
As the 2026 begins, NGOs across the region emphasized inclusive public participation, transparent monitoring, and coalition-building to maintain momentum for climate and social policies amid election-driven uncertainties and fiscal challenges. In Hungary, the government intensified its election campaign by legally challenging the EU’s decision to phase out Russian oil and gas imports. Meanwhile, the Clean […]
Monthly National Update: December
As 2025 ends, preparations for the Social Climate Fund (SCF) and the Emissions Trading System 2 (ETS2) continue to shape climate policy discussions across the region. Several countries are revising their Social Climate Plans in response to feedback from the European Commission, though specifics of these adjustments often remain undisclosed, keeping civil society organizations vigilant […]
Carbon pricing: Good for citizens, good for the economy
Once outright climate denial lost credibility, some political and industry groups shifted tactics. Their new narrative: climate action hurts people’s wallets. This article debunks the main economic myths being used against the EU’s new carbon price for heating and transport fuels (ETS2).
Monthly National Update: November
November was a quiet month for official decisions, with many governments focused on budget problems and upcoming political deadlines. In some countries, rising deficits created uncertainty about how already-approved climate measures will be carried out. New laws and policy signals appeared in places, but they did not change the overall direction on ETS2 or the […]
Monthly National Update: October
In October, project countries experienced growing political uncertainty around ETS2, SCPs, and wider climate policymaking. In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán publicly stated that the country “does not need EU money” and would instead rely on US financial support, while large amounts of public spending continued to push the budget into significant deficit ahead of […]
Urgent need for fair climate policy
Author: Anas Nadi The decarbonisation of buildings and road transport is one of the most urgent and complex challenges facing Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). These two sectors are not only responsible for a large share of the region’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but they also directly affect people’s daily lives, how they heat their […]