The bulk of European funds allocated to transport in central and eastern European countries is used to build roads, which reduces the attractiveness of rail and helps justify even more investment in roads. The EU must help break this pattern.
The European Commission’s communication on security of energy supply and international cooperation (1)(see Europolitics4259), published on 7 September, was welcomed by the European People’s Party (EPP), but was labelled as one-sided, unfeasible and potentially problematic by British Conservatives, Greens and industry representatives.
UNIFE, the European association that is the voice of manufacturers of rail material and equipment (Bombardier, Alstom, ArcelorMittal, etc), wishes to see investments under European Structural Funds geared more to rail transport.
All EU Member States face lobbying from fossil fuel companies, and singling out any specific country does not alter the fact that it is endemic. However, a couple of very pertinent case studies have recently come to QCEA’s attention, documenting how powerful lobby groups have disproportionately skewed the debate. These cases serve to illustrate that advocating greater transparency and public discussion of the interests that different lobbyists represent, plays a crucial part in the fight against climate change.
CAIRO: As the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) moves closer to expanding its operations into Egypt, activists have questioned whether such a move would be beneficial for the country.
Berlin/London - Der serbische Energieversorger EPS bekommt einen 80-Millionen-Euro-Kredit aus Steuermitteln für den Ausbau des Braunkohlebergwerks Kolubara. Das beschloss die Europäische Bank für Wiederaufbau und Entwicklung (EBRD) am Mittwoch in London. Mit dem Geld solle die Produktion modernisiert werden. Die Förderbank bezeichnete die Investition als Mittel zur "Erhöhung der Umweltstandards".
An internationally backed project will route hazardous cargo out of the city center, but residents in its path say they’re being offered a pittance in exchange for valuable land and a way of life.
Regardless of the EU’s ups and downs, most people in Eastern Europe are still likely to believe that membership can help improve their lives. For pre-accession countries (Western Balkans, Turkey, Iceland), financial assistance from the EU in the form of IPA (the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance) is considered an important opportunity to promote development.
A pending decision by the European Bank for Development and Reconstruction (EBRD) to pay €80 million for the expansion of Serbia's largest coal mine has caused uproar among environmentalist groups and the local community.
Die EU finanziert Hochspannungsleitungen in der Ukraine – und verhindert dort den Ausstieg aus der Atomenergie. Auch gelangt so billiger Atomstrom aus der Ukraine in die EU.
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