EU Parliament shirks responsibility for climate action in future funding of Europe’s most needy regions
February 14, 2019
Brussels, for immediate release – A vote today by the Parliament on the future European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Cohesion Funds for 2021-2027 opens the possibilities for continued funding of fossil fuels, in spite of the EU’s obligations to reduce greenhouse gases under the Paris Agreement and its net-zero emissions Long Term Strategy.
Croatian coal plant must not be resurrected
February 13, 2019
The Plomin 1 coal plant, on Croatia’s Istrian coast, is already 50 years old. In 2017 it closed due to a fire. Yet the Croatian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Energy looks set to allow Plomin 1’s owner, HEP, to bring it back from the dead without even an environmental impact assessment.
European Parliament greenlights clean cohesion policy
February 13, 2019
Today the members of the European Parliament adopted the Common Provisions Regulation, which sets the principles and common rules on how Cohesion Policy funding should be spent from 2021 to 2027. Civil society groups CEE Bankwatch Network and Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe welcome the agreed climate-friendly provisions, including the exclusion of fossil fuel investments, but they must be reflected in tomorrow’s vote on the Regional Development Fund in order to become reality.
The EU’s bank downplayed climate risk in granting record loans to Europe’s largest fossil fuel project
February 7, 2019
Brussels – In a complaint lodged today with the European Investment Bank (EIB), civil society groups protest that the bank systematically underestimated the climate footprint of a fossil fuel mega project, the Southern Gas Corridor, which helped justify providing it with major financial support using EU public money.
EU funds maladministration complaint to the European Ombudsman
January 31, 2019
The matter of concern is the use of EU Cohesion funds for deterioration of the conservation and integrity of habitats and species in Kresna gorge (Bulgaria) protected by EU law and International Conventions. The EC did not prevent and ensure that the S
Case to the European Ombudsman calls out Commission for failing to protect Bulgaria’s biodiversity
January 31, 2019
Brussels / Sofia – the European Commission has been accused of failing to monitor how EU funds are being spent in Bulgaria, according to a complaint [1] filed to the European Ombudsman over the Commission’s handling of a motorway project that threatens a protected Natura 2000 site.
Rural community engagement
January 30, 2019
The publication identifies positive practices to empower communities affected by environmental degradation to develop sustainable livelihood opportunities and protect themselves from harmful developments. Done in cooperation with partners of A Voice of
Towards a just transition for the Upper Nitra region
January 24, 2019
Priatelia ZEME – CEPA and CEE Bankwatch are today launching a set of recommendations to feed into the Just Transition debate taking place in Upper Nitra and at the national level in Slovakia. The recommendations come in a context when Just Transition i
New jobs in the process of transformation of the Upper Nitra region (in Slovak)
January 24, 2019
This paper focuses on a brief outline of concrete steps to turn Upper Nitra towards a low carbon future. In particular, it is to stop further public subsidies to fossil energy – especially lignite mining and burning – and urgently redirect public funds
Future EU funds for the regions set to become climate-proof
January 22, 2019
Brussels, for immediate release – Today the European Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development (REGI) adopted the so-called Common Provisions Regulation, which sets the conditions and principles governing the funding for Cohesion Policy from 2021 to 2027. NGO groups CEE Bankwatch Network and Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe welcome the regulation, which exceeds the European Commission’s proposal by introducing new and additional safeguards against climate change.
