Environmental groups challenge backdoor dismantling of EU nature safeguards
March 9, 2023
CEE Bankwatch Network and ÖKOBÜRO have initiated legal action (1) to uphold EU environmental law and public consultation requirements when building renewable energy facilities. The groups argue that an emergency regulation adopted by the Council of the European Union in December 2022 breaches EU and international law.
Want to advocate for the environment? It’s not as hard as it sounds!
March 3, 2023
At the beginning of 2023, Green Liberty announced 2023 as the Year for Environmental Advocacy in Latvia. 38 active people, emerging environmentalists and members of various organisations met in a full-day opening event on 3 March 2023 in Riga to explor
Successful renewables acceleration needs more public participation, not less
February 27, 2023
In December 2022, the Council of the European Union adopted an emergency regulation aimed at speeding up renewable energy deployment. But Member States have to uphold environmental safeguards and consult the public if they don’t want to end up doing the opposite, warns our new position paper.
Position paper for EU Member States on applying Council Regulation (EU) 2022/2577 to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy
February 27, 2023
Council Regulation (EU) 2022/2577 of 22 December 2022 rightly aims to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy. But although it contains some useful provisions, it raises serious concerns about the legal basis used for its adoption, the extent to
Riga’s climate neutrality planning: an example of realistic ambition and public engagement
February 15, 2023
This briefing provides an overview of the planning process Riga city council took when designing the Riga Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan Until 2030, as well as insight into the plan itself.
Open letter to the European Commission: environmental reforms and civil society engagement are key for Ukraine’s reconstruction and European accession
February 3, 2023
On 1 February, representatives of Ukrainian and international civil society organisations sent an open letter to Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission. In the letter, they call on the European Union to support civil society engagement and the incorporation of green principles into Ukraine’s reconstruction process, which will go hand in hand with the country’s EU accession.
Romania U-turns on decarbonisation to expand a lignite mine in Gorj and wipe out 106 hectares of forest
January 13, 2023
The Romanian government is again acting contrary to its EU commitments.
REPowerEU deal is a blow to a more climate-oriented energy policy in central and eastern Europe
December 22, 2022
Six months after the proposal was put forward, a deal was struck by EU negotiators on the financial leg of the REPoweREU plan, the EU’s strategy to cope with the energy crisis and phase Russian fuels out of the market. National governments will be invited to quickly add new chapters to their recovery plans, which is potentially good news and a chance to further invest in the energy transition. However, Member States must avoid falling into the trap of fossil fuels, which are making a comeback in the palette of investments eligible for EU funds.
Public participation at stake in participatory processes in the EU
December 16, 2022
The end of 2022 coincides with the conclusion of the preparation of the 2021-2027 cohesion policy. Soon, the European Commission will approve the last partnership agreements and operational programmes outlining the investment priorities and specific objectives for the following years. At the same time, there are other important processes to follow at the European and national levels.
Nature gets less than 1% of unprecedented EU budget -report
December 16, 2022
EU Member States are obligated to spend at least 37% of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF, totalling €750 billion) launched to …
