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.
Parliament moves to make EU cohesion policy greener
February 13, 2019
The EU has moved a step closer to making its cohesion policy climate-proof after the European parliament voted to exclude fossil fuels from regional programme funding Parliament moves to make EU cohesion policy greener
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.
Krapska Reka small hydropower plant, Macedonia
February 6, 2019
Loopholes in the EBRD’s due diligence, together with a lack of assessment and monitoring by Macedonia’s local and central government, has proven to be a lethal combination for the country’s rivers. A prime example is the Krapska Reka small hydropower project. The authorities’ failure to recognise the location as part of the proposed Jakupica National Park, Emerald area and a future Natura 2000 site, on top of poor mitigation measures and construction practices, have caused irreversible damage to this small river valley.
L’Europa dice basta ai finanziamenti agli inceneritori
February 2, 2019
Il Fondo europeo di sviluppo regionale, da cui arrivavano i finanziamenti agli inceneritori, sarà invece destinato alla crescita intelligente e all’economia verde. L’Europa dice basta ai finanziamenti agli inceneritori
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
