Ahead of a European Council meeting on innovation, Green 10, a coalition of the ten largest environmental organisations working at the European level, called on the Presidents of the three main EU institutions to promote sustainable innovation. Noting that certain companies who masquerade as innovators are actually seeking to block policies that challenge the status quo and deliver on sustainable innovation. The letter continues to stress the needs for a wider concept of innovation, the stimulating role of public policies and the importance of the precautionary principle.

This letter to Commissioner Janez Potocnik outlines serious concerns regarding the optional "Transitional National Plan" (TNP) derogation of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED). The TNPs provide an opportunity for the coal industry and governments to pollute more compared to the general pollution limits set by the IED. In some cases using this derogation makes retrofitting plants economically viable, because thanks to the derogation they are given more time to meet the IED pollution limits.