EU

Open letter to EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs, General Affairs Council

Advocacy letter | June 25, 2012

Current proposals for the Cohesion Policy's European Regional Development Fund would effectually rebrand gas as a low-carbon energy source in spite of its status as a fossil fuel. This letter, signed by 21 environmental organisations, urges Europe's decision makers not to approve these proposals and instead to ensure that European regional development investments focus on renewable energy sources, smart energy distribution, and energy efficiency measures.

Theme: Energy & climate

Environmental study for illegal coal plant gets thumbs up in Croatia

The Plomin “C” coal power plant in Croatia is illegal - so why has its environmental impact assessment been given the thumbs up?

Tags: accountability climate coal Croatia fossil fuels protest EU

Theme: Energy & climate

3:1 against Ombla, Croatia must stop gung-ho investment

3 out of 4 experts gave a negative opinion on the environmental study of the Ombla hydropower plant. Now the Croatian government must heed their warnings and stop the project.

Tags: biodiversity hydropower Natura2000 Ombla protected areas renewables Zelena Akcija EU

Institution: EBRD

Theme: Other harmful projects

The EIB in Greece: by the numbers

As Europe’s financial establishment braces for the results of tomorrow’s Greek elections and Eurozone officials dangle the carrot of a new European Investment Bank programme in front of Athens, we’ve prepared a snapshot of previous EIB loans in the country. [1] [2] [3] [4] (NB: any tricolour similarities are entirely coincidental.)

Tags: austerity crisis debt economics EIB eurozone graph Greece numbers EU

Institution: EIB

Theme: Energy & climate, Social & economic impacts

Member States stepping back from EU's low-carbon investment agenda

June 13, 2012

Brussels - Representatives of EU Member States meeting tomorrow in Brussels intend to promote the financing of gas distribution, storage and transmission from Cohesion Policy funds meant for low-carbon measures in the next EU budget. Such support for gas would mean the EU’s dependency on fossil fuels will continue for decades, undermining global efforts to combat climate change.

Institution: EU Funds

Theme: Energy & climate

Tags: EU

A call for an open and transparent consultation process over the EIB's energy policy

Advocacy letter | June 13, 2012

In this letter, five NGOs and NGO coalitions call on the EIB to undertake consultations according to the best standard as well as to identify and inform a wide range of stakeholders about the revision of the policy.

Institution: EIB

Theme: Energy & climate

Transport in the EU Budget: Making spending sustainable - Priorities for the TEN-T Guidelines and the Connecting Europe Facility

Briefing | June 10, 2012

Transport is the only sector where greenhouse gas emissions are still increasing. Without decisive new action, transport GHG emissions are expected to grow by 74% until 2050. The Commission has pledged that at least 20% of the proposed €1 trillion EU budget for 2014-2020 will go towards climate mitigation and adaptation goals. This paper outlines how these commitments can be put into practice in the regulations on CEF and the TEN-T guidelines.

Institution: EU Funds

Theme: Transport

Fossil fuels rebranded as low-carbon also in Cohesion Policy discussions

Discussions in the European Parliament on the next Cohesion Policy have seemingly been taken hostage by fossil fuel friendly interests - once again with Poland taking the lead.

Tags: climate Cohesion Policy EU budget European Parliament fossil fuels MFF Poland EU

Institution: EU Funds

Theme: Energy & climate

The many faces of coal subsidies. A glance at Romania.

The case of two Enel investments in Romania illustrates how subsidies for coal power can be ambiguous, but provide very concrete disincentives for investments in renewable energy.

Tags: climate coal derogation Enel ETS European Commission fossil fuels Romania subsidies Balkans EU

Theme: Energy & climate

Cohesion Policy reform: Supporting and improving thematic concentration

Briefing | May 16, 2012

The Coalition for Sustainable EU Funds supports the principle of thematic concentration in the European Commission's Cohesion Policy legislative package from October 2011. However, changes brought forward by some Member States risk hampering a critical mass of investments in areas that help deliver on EU agreed targets by 2020, especially the Europe 2020 Strategy targets.

Institution: EU Funds

Theme: Energy & climate, Transport, Resource efficiency