Bankwatch

EU’s energy strategy in the Balkans questioned by MEPs

October 18, 2012

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and local Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) worry that the European Commission is bypassing civil society and environmental rules in its Western Balkan strategy.

Theme: Energy & climate

Tags: EU neighbourhood

Covering the Balkans in Soot: The New European Energy Community Strategy Favours Fossil Fuel Reliance

October 17, 2012

Brussels -- Neighbouring countries of the EU from the Western Balkans to Ukraine are planning unsustainable energy futures relying on coal and nuclear. An energy strategy for the region to be approved Thursday by the European Energy Community indicates that such investments in dirty fuels could happen with EU support and financing.

Institution: EU Funds, EBRD, EIB

Theme: Energy & climate

Tags: European Energy Community, fossil fuels, Balkans, CEE, EU neighbourhood

When loyalty blocks climate action - Polish parliament pledges allegiance

The Polish government has a sad reputation for adopting unilateral, even obscure approaches when it comes to our country’s energy policy. What now came as a very disappointing surprise is that the Polish parliament joined the opportunistic chorus of denial - one that considers alternatives to the continued reliance on fossil fuels as a threat to Poland’s security.

Tags: climate action coal fossil fuels Poland roadmap shale gas CEE EU

Institution: EU Funds

Theme: Energy & climate

MEPs question EU's energy strategy in the Balkans

October 17, 2012

Source: Ana-Maria Tolbaru, EurActiv

MEPs and local NGOs worry that that the European Commission is bypassing civil society and environmental rules as it devises an energy strategy for the Western Balkan region.

Theme: Energy & climate

Tags: EU neighbourhood

Notes for a better Europe

Video: Notes for a better Europe

European spending is often considered unnecessary, beaurocratic, and even damaging. We're the last ones to deny that in Bankwatch.

Yet, we are convinced that EU spending - if it is done right - can truly serve the public interest by creating jobs, reducing energy bills, minimizing air pollution, etc.

Our new video highlights how some European projects are showing the way to a greener Europe and a better world.

Tags: citizeneconomy Cohesion Policy ERDF EU budget EU regions local benefits MFF showcases wellspent EU

Institution: EU Funds

Theme: Energy & climate, Transport, Resource efficiency

Initial public offering of ZE PAK SA exposes investors to major risks

Briefing | October 17, 2012

The briefing details the risks that make shares of an Zespół Elektrowni Pątnów Adamów Konin SA (ZE PAK), the second largest producer of lignite in Poland, unattractive and high-risk prospect. Furthermore, investing in ZE PAK through its Initial Public Offering is inconsistent with any investor's efforts to take action on climate change.

Theme: Energy & climate

New Slovene legal requirements for Šoštanj lignite power plant (TEŠ 6) regarding CCS

Advocacy letter | October 17, 2012

On September 8, 2012 new legislation entered into force in Slovenia that requires TEŠ to prepare an assessment of the CCS readiness for its new Unit 6. Pursuant to this legislation, proper assessment of the CCS readiness for the Unit 6 has not taken place yet. As a result, TEŠ has not met the legal requirements regarding the CCS assessment and therefore it is not possible to determine its CCS readiness under the Slovene law.

Letter available as pdf:
Letter to the European Investment Bank >>>
Letter to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development >>>

Institution: EBRD, EIB

Theme: Energy & climate

Comments on draft European Energy Community Strategy - an unsustainable energy future

Policy comments | October 15, 2012

Neighbouring countries of the EU from the Western Balkans to Ukraine are planning unsustainable energy futures relying on coal and nuclear. The energy strategy of the European Energy Community indicates continued reliance on coal and nuclear energy which could happen with EU support and financing.

Institution: EU Funds, EBRD, EIB

Theme: Energy & climate

EU budget debate: Some one trillion euro questions and answers

October 11, 2012

Source: , EurActiv

Keti Medarova-Bergstrom and Pawel Swidlicki put their heads together to identify why and where EU budgetary spending has got it wrong in the past and propose how roughly €1 trillion can better serve Europe's environment, economy and people in the next funding period.

Institution: EU Funds