(1/3) 💸💣 Defence spending is having its moment. In the EU, military budgets are growing fast and with little public debate about where the money comes from or what it funds. The @eib.org is playing its part. 🧵👇

Billions are being shifted away from fossil fuels, and that’s worth celebrating 🎉 ✅ The UK ended public finance for fossil fuel projects abroad. ✅ Millions were stopped from funding a harmful LNG project in Mozambique 🎉 Join us in the celebration: bit.ly/4sFaC8G

70 organisations have written to MEPs asking them to vote against the #PCIlist proposal for a new generation of hydrogen and fossil fuel pipelines. We call on the Commission to draw up an electricity-only list of projects to avoid fossil fuel lock-in. www.foodandwatereurope.org/wp-content/u...

Scandal alert! 🖋️ VDL has officially declined to meet the people. While she’s busy with the industry, she has declined the 270+ groups waiting for her. We’re withholding our ball because we don't talk to empty chairs. Stay tuned: the ton isn't going anywhere, and we have a lot to say about this snub.

📣 270+ organisations gathered. A ballroom prepared. And the Guest of Honour? She has declined the dance. 👀 It seems @vonderleyen only has eyes for her industrial suitors. 😱 The @EU_Commission has officially refused to meet the people. #AntwerpCounterSummit A scandal, truly.

🇪🇺🏦 A new blog on the @eib.org Forum 2026 is out! For three days, bankers, ministers and CEOs from big companies discussed Europe’s investment future. But behind the panels, speeches and networking, something else was happening: contracts were being signed.

🌍⚖️ The @eib.org claims to be the Climate Bank. But financing fossil-linked infrastructure and companies while ignoring international legal obligations tells a different story. We joined 14 CSOs in demanding the EIB act NOW. Read the letter👇

🌍🤝 At the recent EIBF Forum, “win-win partnerships” dominated discussions around EIB Global. Yet the focus remained largely on advancing EU commercial interests, supply chains and strategic priorities, raising questions about whose interests are shaping development finance. 🇪🇺💰 More below 👇

In #EIBForum, happy as the EIB says we can not go back to #fossilfuels in front of Eni lobbyist but so sad not to hear any voices against #nuclear, #CCS (Eni's favourite)

🎙️ A new episode from the #EUWatchdogRadio is out! Today marks the one-year anniversary of the EU’s flagship Clean Industrial Deal. But so far who benefits, and who actually decides the direction of Europe’s green transition? 🎧 Listen: spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/0hGcv52J40b

Today, 17 international CSOs sent a letter calling on the Swiss government to stop violating its commitment to end international public finance for fossil fuels. We demand 🇨🇭 to honor its climate commitments and immediately cease issuing export credit insurance for gas-fired power plants. Read 👇

Industry Support at All Costs? 🇪🇺 Our new report shows how InvestEU is scaling up public guarantees while undermining a just transition. 🧵👇 🔗 Read more: counter-balance.org/publications...

⚠️ The latest proposals from @ec.europa.eu for the #MFF have serious repercussions for int’l #development, accelerating the shift towards private finance over the EU’s mandate to reduce poverty & tackle inequalities. How? See our 🆕report or the 🧵below: www.eurodad.org/mff_blended_... /1

Global Gateway isn’t about development. It’s about advancing European capital at the expense of people and the planet. 🌍💥 A new wave of EU infrastructure is being rolled out globally. But who really benefits from it? 👇🧵 Read the blog post we just published: counter-balance.org/news/global-...

📄 CSOs published recommendations to the Board of Directors of the @eib.org on its facility to pre-finance the Social Climate Fund. How this Facility is designed will determine if people and communities across the EU are supported or ignored. 🇪🇺 Here are some of our key recommendations 👇🧵

🎤 Today, we have listened to how de-risking can be a dangerous tool that can raise debt and even deepen inequalities between countries. ⛓️ Why do we channel public money to profit-oriented bodies with almost no criteria? 💸 @epsu.bsky.social @eeb.org @neweconomics.bsky.social

*Derisking: The public investment to attract private companies & investors by reducing risks or increasing returns for projects that are deemed strategic. Alongside the deregulation wave, it's another point in Commission’s competitiveness agenda. Gambling with public money.

EU budget is not tight when it comes to corporate adventures. ➡️ EU takes the risk - gives the money. ⬅️ Corporates enjoy, almost with no conditionalities. We're listening @angelawigger.bsky.social at the Derisking* event by @eeb.org , @neweconomics.bsky.social, @counter-balance.bsky.social & EPSU.

📝 A new blog is out! While negotiations on the next EU budget are underway, rethinking how and why we de-risk private investment is a pressing necessity if EU public finance is to truly serve households’ liveability and support a fair and sustainable transition. 👉 Read more: lnkd.in/dWXuEAdG

🌍 We’re launching our campaign to reclaim Europe’s public bank for the public good. Right now, the @eib.org is prioritising competitiveness and corporate profit — instead of people, climate justice, and social equity. Here what we demand 👇🧵

🌍 We’ve just published a critical summary of the EU’s Global Gateway initiative 👉 counter-balance.org/publications... Here’s why this strategy deserves closer scrutiny 👇🧵

Have you registered yet ❓ 📢 Profit Over People: How De-risking Is Shaping Europe’s Corporate-Driven Economic Agenda 📅 27 January 2026 📍 EEB Office, Brussels 🤝 Organised by @counter-balance.bsky.social • @epsu.bsky.social • @eeb.org • @neweconomics.bsky.social 👉 Register now: bit.ly/4pAA7Gs

📝 Our colleague @loraverheecke.bsky.social made an interesting contribution for the Belgian NGO @entraideetfrat.bsky.social on the Global Gateway, focusing on how Global Gateway is a program tailored for Europe and its race for minerals at all costs. Read her analysis 👇

WorldBank establishes task force to consider merger of CAO office and WorldBank IAM #independent #accountability #mechanism amid concerns of retrogression in accountability and civic space. More IN OUR #BWObserver Winter 25 👇 tinyurl.com/IAMsMerge

📻 Our new podcast episode just dropped! Listen to it to get all the tea behind the making of our new documentary "The scramble for hydrogen for South Africa" 🎧 👉 corporateeurope.org/en/2025/12/b...

📢 Registrations are open! 🎯 On 27 Jan 2026 we gather academics, trade unions & civil society to unpack the EU’s push for de-risking: public money to attract private profit.

Mary lives in Kabwe, Zambia, one of the world's most polluted places. Her community has filed a class-action against mining giant Anglo American for lead pollution. Read her story: shorturl.at/WMMYO

Corporate Europe Observatory was one of more than 130 organisations that signed an open letter today telling the EU to scrap its neocolonial #greenhydrogen import plans. You can read the full letter here: corporateeurope.org/en/2025/11/t... #No2GreenHydrogenImports

1) 🌍 The @eib.org has launched its new Global Strategic Orientation. But instead of focusing on poverty reduction or equality, the strategy puts EU geopolitical and economic interests first.🧵👇 counter-balance.org/news/the-eib...

🎙️ New episode of EU Watchdog Radio is out! This time, @isabelafranco.bsky.social and @loraverheecke.bsky.social dive into the EU’s race for critical raw materials and the real impacts on communities in the Global South. 🌍⚒️ An insightful analysis of what "green" partnerships mean in practice 👇

1) Export credit agencies (ECAs) are gaining space in EU debates on sustainable development, but there’s a catch. 🤔 ECAs exist to boost national companies abroad, not to reduce poverty or fight climate change. 🚫🌍

🎟️ Our new documentary, premiering on 27 November in Brussels, exposes the voices and reality on the ground through interviews with those on the front lines of proposed new GH2 projects in South Africa. Register now: corporateeurope.org/en/event/4 #GreenHydrogen #GH2scramble #H2scramble

💸 Do you know how much money Big Tech is spending on lobbying in Brussels? How has this amount been increasing? On what is the money being funnelled to and what can we do about it? 📻 Listen to our new #podcast episode to find out 👉 corporateeurope.org/en/2025/11/t...

Indigenous activists from Brazil stormed #COP30 demanding freedom for their territories from oil, mining, and logging interests. “For us, the defeat of our land is felt on our own skin” After decades of exploitation, Indigenous communities are saying: ENOUGH www.theguardian.com/environment/...

🎧 New season of #EUWatchdogRadio is out! This episode dives into the EU’s green hydrogen plans in Morocco 🇲🇦 and what they really mean for energy sovereignty, local communities & gender justice. 🎙️ With @loraverheecke.bsky.social & Hikma Bachegour @menafem.bsky.social Listen here 👇

🎙️ Stay tuned for a new season of EU Watchdog Radio! A podcast launched by @counter-balance.bsky.social and @corporateeurope.org. In each episode, we dive deeper into topics related to our activities in Brussels. 🇪🇺👇

Yesterday, we heard the @eib.org speak about win-win partnerships and boosting defense spending to secure the EU’s strategic interests. 🇪🇺💬 But when we asked about the EIF venture capital invested in Israeli spyware firm Paragon Solutions, there were no answers. Silence speaks volumes. 🤐🩸

🩸During the second panel, the @eib.org emphasised the need to continue increasing the defence and military sector. In 2025, the bank would more than triple its defence-related financing. But is giving more money to companies making profit from war the solution? 🪖💣

🪧 CSOs call on @eib.org to integrate the #EU’s development policy objectives into their Roadmap & strategic orientation: focusing on a pro-poor and sustainable development agenda aligned with the priorities of partner countries. Read our full letter to the EIB bit.ly/4hoHX31

📢 Today is the @eib.org ’s Board Seminar with Civil Society. The first panel discussion is on EIB Global, the bank’s branch that gives loans outside the EU. Let’s get into some important topics discussed during the event. 🧵👇

Critical analysis @counter-balance.bsky.social on the new Climate Strategy of the @eib.org It is backtracking from a strategy to go for fossil fuel free future soon and wants to pour public money in stranded investments (CCS e.g) at a moment responding to climate change needs firm action

1) 💶 The European Investment Bank (EIB) released its 2026–2030 Climate Strategy. The self-proclaimed “EU Climate Bank” is now hitting the break before achieving its climate goals. 🏭 🏢 Here’s what you need to know 🧵👇

@simplyshada.bsky.social highlighted key questions about the Global Gateway: Who really benefits? Where are the local jobs, the technology transfer, the community ownership? Read her full article 👇🏽

"We must build mutual partnerships: mobilising public money to prioritise local actors, based on local needs." - Frank Vanaerschot @frankcb.bsky.social @counter-balance.bsky.social

🔴 Starting now | What are the real implications of the #GlobalGateway strategy❓ Today we'll discuss w/ civil society, affected communities & policymakers the impacts of #energy, mining, #climate & infrastructure projects on the ground. Join via Zoom: bit.ly/4o5Uryp

🏦 @eib.org's “strong engagement” with civil society on the review of the Climate Bank Roadmap: ☀️ One consultation in mid-summer 📄 No draft shared ⏳ 2 weeks for feedback 🔗 Link to the roadmap delayed for days

🚨 Civil society needs a seat at the table in the EU's Global Gateway! Ahead of the Global Gateway Forum, we've published an advocacy toolkit to equip CSOs to shape the future of Global Gateway so it reduces poverty and advances sustainable development. Learn more ➡️ bit.ly/4nYS9RA

🇪🇺 wants to import 🔟 million tonnes of green hydrogen from the global south. These extractive projects will: 🛑 displace communities 🛑 overexploit water 🛑 undermine energy access Join us tonight for a docu screening & discussion on the scramble for hydrogen in South Africa to learn more.

1) 🚨 A new investigation by @apache.be reveals that the European Investment Fund (EIF), part of the @eib.org, channelled 🇪🇺 public money into Paragon Solutions, an Israeli spyware company. 👇

📫 Insieme ad altre 18 organizzazioni della società civile e a sindacati abbiamo chiesto alla @EIB di mettere la giusta transizione al centro della sua nuova Roadmap della Banca per il clima (2026-2030). 👇 Per leggere il testo della lettera: counter-balance.org/uploads/file...