[Campaign update*] New legal complaint on Plomin C
January 17, 2014
Zelena akcija/Friends of the Earth Croatia has submitted a complaint to the Croatian Constitutional Court as part of its ongoing campaign to prevent the construction of the Plomin C power plant, which would be run on imported coal.
TTIP puts the EU’s environmental and social policies on the line
January 13, 2014
The European Commission has repeatedly promised civil society that the TTIP negotiations with the US will not lead to a race to the bottom on environmental protection, health and safety standards and consumer rights. But as negotiations progress, civil society groups on both sides of the Atlantic are increasingly feeling uneasy, ten leading NGOs write in an open letter.
A healthy environment for a good quality of life – The Green 10 top ten demands for the 2014 European Parliament elections
January 13, 2014
Europe is struggling to find its way out of multiple crises. Austerity measures in reaction to the economic crisis are causing untold human suffering. The environmental crisis is continuing apace, endangering the well-being of future generations. Meanwhile, little has been done to put the region on an environmentally sustainable path. Ten of the leading environmental organisations in the EU, representing over 20 million Europeans, believe that the answers to these crises lie in smarter and more sustainable EU policies.
Toolkit for the environmental assessment of EU funding
December 28, 2013
This toolkit provides EU funds practitioners, whether it be relevant officials in municipalities, potential EU funds grantees, local communities, civil society organisations or interested members of the public, with an overview of all the legal regulations related to environmental mainstreaming and sustainable development that have been introduced into the forthcoming EU budgetary period of 2014-2020. In practical terms, coverage is provided, too, of the relevant environmental mainstreaming strategies and mechanisms.
Letter: NGOs call on Director Generals of DG Regio, Clima and Environment to turn around EU funds programming at half time
December 11, 2013
At the present stage, the Partnership Agreements and the Operational Programmes for the next Cohesion Policy period (2014-2020) are not proving to be sufficient for effectively catalysing the EU’s transition towards resource efficient, renewable energy based economies. In this letter to the Director Generals for Regional Policy, Environment and Climate Change, European environmental NGOs raise their worries over the Programming of EU Funds in EU Member States. The main concern is that environmental priorities are not being properly addressed.
Get your EU funds house in order – Hungarian group takes climate and jobs appeal direct to government’s doorstep
December 6, 2013
With 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.
UPDATED: Six months and counting… EBRD silent on investigations into its own operations
December 3, 2013
Is the EBRD deliberately dragging its feet on publishing investigation reports on large hydropower plants in Georgia, Macedonia and Croatia?
Mobilisation of public-private financing for community based sustainable energy projects – Briefing for local actors
November 25, 2013
Regional and local governments, communities and local action groups are able to receive financial support from the 2014 – 2020 EU budget to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in their communities. This briefing outlines how an optimal public-private financing mix, including European funding, can look and how it can be developed with the involvement of local stakeholders.
PPPs a threat to national security, says Czech national security service BIS
November 21, 2013
The 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.
EU Cohesion Policy deal done, but not dusted
November 20, 2013
Strasbourg, France – Following final agreement today by the European Parliament on EU Cohesion Policy spending for the next seven years, CEE Bankwatch Network and Friends of the Earth Europe are calling on eastern European countries to now make the most of the funds available and commit to quality spending.
