Letter to DG Regio and DG Envi regarding further simplification of EU funds regulations

The letter expresses the concern about potential environmental impacts and sustainability aspects of the proposal to further simplify EU funds regulations as a response to the economic crisis.

Bankwatch and Friends of the Earth Europe are less than convinced that the EU funds will be effectively used to stimulate the transition to a green economy - a major aim of President Barroso's EU Economic Recovery Plan - and therefore want to scrutinise the safeguards that the Commission will put in place in order to ensure that the current proposals will not only accelerate EU spending but will also guarantee:

1. the sound, transparent and environmentally harmless use of EU funds for major projects, and:
2. the optimal contribution of EU spending in the central and eastern European states for the implementation of EU commitments to fight climate change.

On December 22, 2009 we received a response from DG Regio. Download it as pdf here.