European Parliament approves Juncker Investment Plan, lacks guidance and oversight
Press release | 25 June, 2015Today the European Parliament approved the regulation establishing the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) at the heart of President Juncker’s EUR 315 billion investment plan. But critics say that the regulation lacks clear provisions for oversight of the fund and guidance for investments in green, sustainable and resource-efficient projects that are part of the fund’s mandate.
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Will energy efficiency be sidelined in the Energy Union’s implementation?
Blog entry | 8 June, 2015EU energy ministers are meeting in Brussels today to discuss the implementation of the Energy Union. Looking at what has been discussed so far, the strategy may not prioritise energy efficiency enough to help Europe become climate-friendly.
Read moreStatement on the European Parliament ITRE Committee vote
Press release | 15 April, 2015CEE Bankwatch Network, Friends of the Earth Europe and Counter Balance welcome yesterday’s vote to earmark EUR 5 billion for energy savings projects across Europe by the Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE). The funds were allocated via an amendment to the European Fund for Strategic Investment regulation proposed by Commission president Juncker in December 2014. The vote also requires that any energy infrastructure project financed from the EUR 315 billion investment plan be in line with Europe’s long term energy and climate targets for 2050.
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Local initiatives champion sustainability and resilience in central and eastern Europe
Blog entry | 26 March, 2015A new website with inspiring stories of local sustainable initiatives shows the very real change that small-scale projects can make for local communities.
Read moreGreen 10 open letter to VP Timmermans: “Do not kill laws crucial for our health, environment and the economy”
Press release | 11 December, 2014The 10 leading environmental NGOs in Europe appeal to Vice President Timmermans not to sink the air and waste packages: “Polluton kills 58,000 persons every year. Are they not European citizens? Shouldn’t the Commission protect their interest too? ”
Read moreNew money, old ideas: How EU spending plans for central and eastern Europe are selling short a greener future
Press release | 11 December, 2014Brussels, December 11 – Central and Eastern European countries are planning to use unacceptable amounts of their €350 billion allocation from the EU budget on dirty energy projects, polluting forms of transport and incinerators, according to a comprehensive analysis of draft government spending plans published today by CEE Bankwatch Network and Friends of the Earth Europe.
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New study assesses prospects for EU funded low-carbon energy solutions in Polish regions
Blog entry | 25 November, 2014The low-carbon energy ambitions of Polish regions for future EU funding are very diverse with only a few promising cases as an analysis of the Operational Programmes of Polish regions shows.
Read moreVisegrad countries push for more gas imports in 2030 deal
Press release | 22 October, 2014Prague – The Visegrad plus 2 countries (Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, together with Romania and Bulgaria) have all included a strong statement of support for the Southern Gas Corridor into their comments to the drafted EU 2030 Council conclusions to begin in Brussels this Thursday.
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Visegrad countries pose fresh threat to 2030 targets
Press release | 1 October, 2014Brussels – The group of four Visegrad countries (Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia) plus Romania and Bulgaria declared yesterday their readiness to block EU 2030 binding renewables and energy efficiency targets which are to be agreed upon at a European Council Oct. 23-24. Yet cracks are appearing in the group.
Read moreNew Commission might sideline environment in CEE
Press release | 11 September, 2014Brussels — The priorities of European Commission president elect Jean-Claude Juncker for the newly-announced Commission threaten Europe’s climate and resource efficiency ambitions, says CEE Bankwatch Network. Particularly worrying from the perspective of CEE countries is an apparent shift in the vision of Regional Policy from making the European economy more sustainable, to “jobs, growth, investment and competitiveness” without any nod to green energy and resource efficiency.
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