Right track, weak attitude. The EU’s Resource Efficiency Roadmap.
September 22, 2011
The European Commission this week published its ideas on how to build a resource efficient economy in Europe. Bankwatch’s resource efficiency expert Marijan Galovic thinks the roadmap’s focus is not wide enough yet.
In times of crisis – Poland’s take on the Emperor’s New Clothes
September 9, 2011
Poland has made a worrying proposal on public private partnerships that could risk the future stability of European economies by turning a blind eye to future public debt. But the EU would do well to take the British example as an eye opener.
No more (EU) sweeping under the rug!
August 15, 2011
Bankwatch’s waste expert, analyses the draft EU Resource Efficiency Roadmap released by the Commission this month. A good start, but much more is needed, says Galovic.
Why not do the obvious and use the EU bugdet for energy efficiency?
August 4, 2011
As discussions intensify about the future European Union budget, Bankwatch’s Czech energy campaigner outlines how spending EU money on energy efficiency promises better economic, social and environmental returns than the prevailing consensus about big infrastructure projects.
Investment plan for Sostanj lignite power plant TES6 (version 4, unofficial translation)
August 4, 2011
The new version of the investment programme for a new unit at the Sostanj lignite power plant was prepared by the project promoter after the Slovene government expressed doubts over the economic viability of the investment. All the three previous versions of the document were hidden from the public eye.
From the outside looking in on EU money for Balkan accession
July 14, 2011
Macedonian Bankwatcher Ana Colovic-Lesoska is disappointed by how few opportunities for real public participation were provided during the European Union’s (EU) consultation on the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), the main EU financial tool to help countries in their efforts to join the Community.
Complaint regarding the EIB loan to Sostanj lignite power plant TES6
February 28, 2011
The complaint, filed with the European Investment Bank by Focus Association for Sustainable Development (SI) calls on the bank to withdraw its approval for the project. The complaint addresses the following aspects: premature disbursement of funds failure to assess the project’s compatibility with the 2050 climate targets misleading claims that TEŠ 6 is only a replacement and not an expansion missing clear governmental support to the project
D8 Motorway, Czech Republic
February 18, 2011
The D8 motorway is part of the Berlin – Prague – Budapest – Sofia – Istanbul European multi-modal transport corridor IV. The controversial history of its construction started fifteen years ago when the Czech government reapproved a motorway scheme that was conceived in 1963.
Zagreb municipal solid waste incinerator, Croatia
February 18, 2011
Zagreb City Council is planning to build a 385 000 tonnes-per-year waste-to-energy plant, for which the official cost estimate is EUR 161 400 000. The plant would burn municipal waste and sewage sludge. Croatian environmental NGO Green Action, along with local residents’ groups, believes that the incinerator plans are premature and dangerous.
Via Baltica and Via Carpatia expressways, Poland
February 18, 2011
Expressway developments in north-east Poland could have devastating ramifications on the Knyszyn and Augustow Primeval Forests and the Biebrza Marshes – areas of extraordinary beauty that are home to unique wildelife.
