Bankwatch Romania is a member of CEE Bankwatch Network, a network of 16 civil society organisations operating in central and eastern Europe (CEE), established to enable systematic monitoring of the activities of international financial institutions (IFIs) and the impact of their policies and investments.

Bankwatch Romania was set up in 2012, with the goal of monitoring large infrastructure projects especially in the energy sector, financed by public money, in order to prevent harmful environmental and social impacts. In a blend of legal and economic approaches, we have been campaigning successfully against:

• New coal capacities: 3 cancelled - Galati, Braila Rovinari;
• A EUR-200-million loan for modernisations at Turceni power plant unit 6: suspended and then cancelled in 2015;
• Lignite mines expansions;
• Breach of pollution emission limits at coal power plants;
• Annulment of construction permits for the Jiu Gorge hydro power project (in a National Park);
• Opaque environment institutions, by demanding and obtaining access to public information on real emissions values, and harmful energy projects.

Our approach includes informing and empowering local communities in the coal regions in Romania, litigation in national courts and at the EU level and media outreach on national and EU-level.