EU

Environmental NGOs would like to highlight opportunities for decision makers to improve key issues of the Cohesion Policy regulations, in order to maximise the benefits that can be delivered to European regions by the future Cohesion Policy and other Common Strategic Framework funds. In addition, they will ensure that the future Cohesion Policy better contributes to reach the Europe 2020 targets, create regional green jobs, enhance economic opportunities and address environmental challenges.

Environmental NGOs fully understand the need of more flexibility for regions that but have high concerns with the solution proposed by the Parliament regarding the principle of thematic concentration: in this time of crisis, we note with concern that many Member States and regions stick to business as usual approaches to re-boost growth urgently – because it is considered to be faster and easier than more innovative, complex and forward looking solutions.

The European Investment Bank has opened a review of its energy policy and called for the public's views on the key future challenges for the bank's operations. The lending figures to the energy sector until 2011 show that the policy must better guide the EIB's lending towards EU policy objectives of de-carbonisation of the energy sector.

The French energy and transport conglomerate Alstom is one of the seven finalists for the People's Public Eye Awards 2013. This assessment - done by experts from the Institute for Business Ethics of the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland - takes a look at international treaties and Alstom's conduct in relation to them.

In Autumn 2012, the European Investment Bank has launched a process of reviewing its energy lending policy in order to align it better with EU climate goals. Bankwatch's comments lay out the case for fossil fuels to 'fall out' of the EIB's future energy lending policy - and for an overall more ambitious, and substantially more climate-sensitive EIB energy policy.