Slovakian dam project is a warning sign for Juncker’s investment drive
July 22, 2015
The European Parliament will soon be voting on a Scoreboard that will help assess candidate projects to the EUR 21 billion European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI). Stringent economic, social and environmental criteria are a paramount need for ensuring investments that contribute to a more sustainable Europe.
Ucraina – Pericolul nuclear ascuns in vazul tuturor
July 22, 2015
Atentia intregii regiuni, daca nu a intregii lumi, este concentrata pe evenimentele din estul Ucrainei. Pe buna dreptate, pentru ca un razboi in Europa nu mai putea fi imaginat de multi dintre noi. In tot acest timp insa, in Ucraina se intampla si alte lucruri, unele cu potential impact direct asupra Romaniei intr-un caz tragic. E vorba despre starea ingrijoratoare a reactoarelor nucleare ale acestei tari si prelungirea duratei lor de viata cu incalcarea conventiilor internationale la care Kievul a aderat. De la Bucuresti, liniste totala. Autoritatile romane nu par ingrijorate.
Financing Partnership: supporting partners in monitoring and implementation of EU funds from Technical Assistance
July 13, 2015
This paper addresses the challenges faced by civil sociey organisations in building and maintaining their capacities for fully contributing to monitoring and the implementation of ESIF 2014 – 2020. As exemplified by best practices from Poland and Slovakia, Techncial Assistance can indeed support civil society partners’ comprehensive involvement in the policy cycle. However, financial support for partners is more an exemption than a common practice in the CEE region.
Development finance takes centre stage in Riga
July 10, 2015
In June, Latvian Green Movement co-organised the high-profile Riga International Roundtable Financing for Development: Role of EU Member States. Participants included policy makers, journalists, representatives of development finance institutions and civil society and academics. At the event, countries’ positions on and alternative solutions to development finance were complemented by a view on successes and challenges of development finance so far.
Possible coal and energy State aid cases in Energy Community countries based on publicly accessible information
June 8, 2015
By signing the Energy Community Treaty in 2005, countries in the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova agreed to abide by the European Union’s competition rules. But a number of energy sector investments are being planned that may not so far have taken adequate account of state aid rules. This briefing includes case studies of projects from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, and Ukraine. See related materials including a more detail briefing, a press release and a slideshow at:
Italian mayor stands up against EU priority gas pipeline
June 8, 2015
Local opposition against the Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline (TAP) is growing as an Italian mayor made clear in an open letter to the European Commission and European public banks.
Illegal coal subsidies could cost south-east European countries dearly, warns new study
June 8, 2015
Prague – New investments in coal mines and power plants could cost the Western Balkans and Ukraine dearly if they fail to take into account binding rules on subsidies (State aid), according to a new briefing released today by CEE Bankwatch Network.
Risks for coal and electricity investments in the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova due to state-aid rules
June 8, 2015
By signing the Energy Community Treaty in 2005, countries in the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova agreed that the European Union’s competition rules are to be applied also within their territory. A number of energy sector investments are being planned that may not so far have taken adequate account of State aid rules. This briefing therefore provides a summary to draw attention to relevant requirements of EU law and highlight the risks of failure to take them into account when planning investments. The account when planning investments.
Ukrajina a jadrove reaktory
May 22, 2015
Interview with Dana Marekova (in Slovak). Starting at 21:00
Operations suspended at one Ukrainian nuclear unit, as wider safety doubts persist
May 14, 2015
Citing 33 safety issue failings, at the end of April Ukraine’s nuclear regulator took the decision to suspend operations at Unit 2 of the South Ukraine nuclear power plant by a May 12 deadline, the date marking the end of the plant’s design lifetime. Under the terms of the Ukrainian State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate Council’s decision, should the state-owned nuclear energy operator Energoatom wish to resume the unit’s operations beyond its design lifetime it will have to implement all necessary measures by May 2017.
