JustGreen project aims to engage the V4 citizens in debates and other forms of public engagement around decarbonization in three areas that are intimately linked to their everyday lives: housing, transport, and the job market. The public engagement activities, along with the ancillary research, shall pinpoint specific obstacles citizens and communities encounter when implementing climate-friendly steps or adapting to the EU decarbonization policies.

The ETS 2 system will raise fuel prices. Without government preparation, people in regions who rely on cars for their commute will feel the impact the most. The European Fit for 55 package sets rules aimed at reducing emissions by 55 percent by 2030 and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. One of the main tools for achieving these goals is the ETS 2 system, which will introduce fees for fossil fuel emissions in the heating and transportation sectors starting in 2028. Analyst Rebeka Hengalová from the EUROPEUM Institute emphasized the need for systemic changes in an interview with EU Brief.

This project continues to monitor and assess the implementation of ETS2 and the allocation of SCF funds to ensure that resources are used effectively and equitably. At the same time, it provides an in-depth analysis of transport availability, accessibility, and affordability, while exploring sustainable mobility trends, innovations, and policy pathways that can strengthen long-term resilience.

On March 18, at the “Science for Climate Action 2026” conference in Brussels, we presented our JustGreen project as part of a session focused on the experiences of citizens in the V4 countries with the green transition and its impact on their daily lives. Rebeka Hengalová, Research Fellow at EUROPEUM Institute, outlined the project’s main objectives and findings.

The European Commission has unveiled long-awaited measures to strengthen European industry and keep pace with China in the field of so-called clean technologies. In an evening news program on Radiožurnál, Rebeka Hengalová, a researcher at EUROPEUM Institute, discussed what the Industrial Accelerator Act entails and what protections it will provide for so-called green products manufactured in the EU.

This briefing document maps the current state of negotiations regarding changes to the ETS2 emission allowance system proposed by the European Commission. The text is based on an expert roundtable discussion held on January 16, 2026. The discussion was attended by representatives of the European Parliament and the Commission, experts from Czech ministries, employer associations, companies, and regional organizations, as well as specialists from the non-profit sector, research institutes, and academia. The primary objective of this material is to bring necessary expert depth to the debate on the future form of ETS2 and to help the public and key stakeholders better navigate this complex topic, which will fundamentally affect not only household budgets but also key economic sectors. The authors of the text are our research fellow Rebeka Hengalová, analyst Kateřina Kolouch Grabovská (Fakta o klimatu), and researcher Tomáš Protivínský (IDEA at CERGE-EI).

EU environment ministers agreed to postpone the introduction of the ETS2 emissions trading system to 2028. While some states frame this as a victory, experts warn the delay will cause confusion and slow down essential green-transition investments. The Czech Republic also risks EU penalties or losing access to the Social Climate Fund if it refuses to implement ETS2 fully. Commented by Rebeka Hengalová, Research Fellow at the EUROPEUM Institute.

The European Commission has introduced adjustments to the ETS2 emissions trading system, which will expand its impact to households and transport starting in 2027. A new, more flexible price mechanism will be implemented to prevent sharp increases in allowance prices. While the Czech government is presenting the changes as its success, the opposition considers them merely cosmetic and warns of further increases in heating and fuel costs. The issue was commented on for Hospodářské noviny by Rebeka Hengalová, Research Fellow at the EUROPEUM Institute.

In 2023, the Green Europe Team of the Institute for European Policy EUROPEUM started a series of debates focused on communicating the topic of green transformation to the Czech public. The aim is to develop public debate and support journalists and civil society in informed discussions about climate change and climate policies. In its first year, the Prague Climate Academy focused on sustainability in transportation (decarbonizing road transport in connection with electromobility and the sustainability of transportation in Prague). In 2024, it continued with the topic of adapting cities to climate change and discussing the impacts of heatwaves on cities. The year 2025 brings the perspective of resilience, with a discussion of current trends in global temperature rise and extreme weather events, including their impacts on urban infrastructure and public health.

The project Green Broadcast was launched on 1 January 2025 and will be ongoing until 31 August 2025.

This brochure focuses on presenting facts about current strategies and their benefits not only for climate goals, but also for social cohesion. In particular, it uses the example of the expanded Emissions Trading System (ETS2) to illustrate possible ways of using revenues — through targeted investments that can help prevent deepening poverty and support the development of public goods. The brochure was prepared as part of a media training seminar in the summer of 2025 and therefore reflects the current state of political affairs.

Some companies or organizations present their products or services as more environmentally friendly than they actually are. This phenomenon is called greenwashing, and the European Commission is addressing this issue. Is it necessary to address it with directives? If so, will this place an additional bureaucratic burden on small businesses? Is the EU backing away from its "green" efforts? Rebeka Hengalová, a researcher at the EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, answered these and other questions posed by moderator Michaela Indráková.