In April 2023, Slovakia submitted a request to the European Commission to update its recovery and resilience plan, which involves the addition of an REPowerEU chapter. But although the plan includes appropriate measures to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, it still gives the ‘green light’ to fossil gas boilers and nuclear-derived hydrogen, while prioritising the profits of large companies over social facilities for older persons and other vulnerable groups.
On 6 June 2023, Russian occupiers blew up the biggest dam in Ukraine. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydropower plant threatens huge environmental and humanitarian consequences for the south of Ukraine and the entire Black Sea region.
The European Commission has approved amendments to Estonia’s recovery and resilience plan and its newly added REPowerEU chapter. The country is determined to accelerate the energy transition, but more transparency is needed if it is to succeed.
In May 2023, a massive fire broke out at the Nubarashen landfill on the outskirts of Yerevan, enveloping the city in a cloud of toxic smoke generated by the burning waste. It took 10 days and 2,300 truckloads of soil to extinguish the flames. Coming seven years after Yerevan became a pioneer by joining the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)’s Green Cities initiative, this incident is a stark reminder of the urgent need to adopt a safer and more sustainable approach to waste management and urban planning.
The EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 offers a unique opportunity to use public finances to accelerate the energy transition. But to succeed, this transition must be inclusive, equitable and citizen-centred.
Most EU countries missed the deadline to submit additional REPowerEU chapters to national recovery and resilience plans on time, including Latvia, where few details about the reasons for the delay have emerged. Here are some ideas on how Latvia can make the best use of EU funds to help decarbonise its energy system and support its citizens.
