Polish region an unexpected champion of green energy citizen projects
Blog entry | 21 July, 2014As EU Member States continue to negotiate with the European Commission their spending plans for the next Cohesion Policy funds for 2014-2020, the Polish region of Podlaskie in the northeast proves an unexpected champion for the green energy citizen’s revolution in Poland.
Read moreMassive EU infrastructure priority projects lack mandatory environmental assessment
Press release | 26 June, 2014EU heads of state gathering today and tomorrow will discuss the European Energy Security Strategy promoting a number of massive infrastructure projects which include gas pipelines, LNG terminals and storage facilities even though their overall environmental impact has not been adequately assessed. Environmentalists are currently battling the European Commission over this issue in Court.
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Transition triumphs and traps – Assessing Poland’s recent economic journey, and where it goes next
Blog entry | 4 June, 2014During last month’s EBRD annual meeting in Warsaw, Bankwatch Mail convened a discussion about the state of the Polish economy between a financial journalist and a sociologist – both residents of the Polish capital – to hear their views on some of the pressing economic issues of the day, as well as the ongoing Polish ‘transition’ process. With the 25th anniversary of the end of communist rule in Poland a few months away now (today in fact marks a quarter of a century since the first Polish elections under communism), what have been the achievements and the lessons to be learned from the last two and half decades?
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10 years since EU accession: less than we hoped for
Blog entry | 1 May, 2014It’s not that easy to pull off a celebratory mood this 1st of May, even though on this date we mark the anniversary of 10 years since most of central and eastern Europe joined the European Union.
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UPDATE: Danube dam-busting – Under the radar EU funds grab spotted in Slovakia
Blog entry | 25 March, 2014A highly problematic Danube dam project has found its way into the Slovak Operational Programme for the Cohesion Policy spending in the 2014-2020 period and has become a small scandal in the country.
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Eyes on different prizes – EU funds negotiations enter last lap in Slovakia
Blog entry | 5 March, 2014The Partnership Agreement (the main strategic document underpinning the new Cohesion Policy) is the place to state not only intentions but commitments, yet the latter are missing in Slovakia’s EU funds blueprint for now.
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Cold shower for Czech incinerator plans – no EU funding, says European Commission
Blog entry | 4 March, 2014The Czech Republic’s long-standing difficulties in realising major waste incinerator schemes via EU funds investments have taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks as the European Commission has poured cold water on the country’s incineration plans, both as they apply to the 2007-2013 EU funding period and to the forthcoming 2014-2020 period now entering the final stages of negotiations.
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Trains, planes and citizens’ mobility – Axeing of Polish airport plan brings calls for improved train connections via EU funds
Blog entry | 22 January, 2014As countries around Europe strive in the first weeks of the year to conclude spending plans that will guide how they deploy billions of EU funds for the 2014-2020 budgetary period, last week saw a welcome move in Poland with the shelving of a controversial airport proposal that had been in line for EU support.
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Get your EU funds house in order – Hungarian group takes climate and jobs appeal direct to government’s doorstep
Blog entry | 6 December, 2013With only a few weeks to go now until final crucial decisions are taken that will determine Hungary’s EU spending plans for the next seven years, Bankwatch’s Hungarian member group MTVSZ decided last week that it was about time the Hungarian government got its house in order when it comes to beneficial EU allocations for cutting domestic energy bills, stimulating the Hungarian economy and fighting climate change.
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PPPs a threat to national security, says Czech national security service BIS
Blog entry | 21 November, 2013The complicated nature, hidden future debts and other characteristics of public-private partnerships have led the Czech Republic’s national security service to consider them a potential threat to public interests.
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