No security for Europe from the Southern Gas Corridor
May 16, 2016
With an ownership structure heavily influenced by Azerbaijan, the European Commission’s flagship energy project may end up being a costly piece of infrastructure that does not increase Europe’s energy security but offers a tool for political leverage to the authoritarian Aliyev regime.
Parliament gets tough on control of EU Bank’s funds
April 28, 2016
In its annual resolution on the European Investment Bank adopted today in Brussels, Members of the European Parliament have criticised the bank’s support to projects under corruption investigations. They also called on the EIB to go further on fighting climate change, tax evasion and tax dodging. Counter Balance and CEE Bankwatch Network welcome the positions taken today by the Parliament in this resolution.
Fossil fuel subsidies from Europe’s carbon market
April 27, 2016
The so called Article 10c of the EU ETS Directive allows lower-income Member States from central and eastern Europe to give allowances for free to electricity installations under the condition that they invest at least the equivalent monetary value of the free allowances in the modernisation and diversification of their energy systems. This briefing contains a detailed review of the experience so far and offers recommendations for the post 2020-period.
EU’s flagship climate instrument used to subsidise coal in Central and Eastern Europe
April 26, 2016
The EU’s carbon market rules allow Central and Eastern European Member States to invest up to €12 billion in coal powered energy production. As representatives of the EU Member States are due to discuss the EU ETS this Wednesday, the new publication “Fossil fuel subsidies from Europe’s carbon market” adds momentum to the need to overhaul this policy.
For European public finance, where will all roads lead from Paris?
April 22, 2016
Signing the Paris Agreement is an important step in Europe’s contribution to the global effort to tackle the climate crisis. But funding this commitment necessarily passes through the public coffers. To kick-start the much-needed energy transition– by swiftly cutting emissions to reach the global carbon neutrality the Paris Agreement prescribes for the second half of this century –a change of paradigm in public investments in energy infrastructure is needed.
Europese kredieten voor ‘dieselgate’?
April 22, 2016
Automerken als Volkswagen kregen miljarden euro’s om schonere auto’s te bouwen. Maar waar werd het geld precies voor gebruikt? ”Deze leningen zijn verbonden aan het emissieschandaal.”
Europe’s Keystone XL: Planned gas pipeline is reckless
April 15, 2016
The Southern Gas Corridor risks locking in higher fossil fuel dependence and wasting colossal amounts of public money.
ETS Modernisation Fund – catalysing the clean energy transformation in central and eastern Europe
April 11, 2016
Within the framework of the EU’s 2030 climate and energy policies, the Modernisation Fund aims to support lower-income Member States in meeting their investment needs related to energy efficiency, including financing small-scale investments projects and the modernisation of energy systems. Based on experience with funding mechanisms at the European Investment Bank, the European Commission and the EU budget, this briefing recommends several structural elements for the establishment of the Fund.
Romanian city battles in court to protect its citizens’ health
April 5, 2016
The Romanian city of Reghin wants its citizens to agree before a potentially harmful formaldehyde plant is built. It has to defend this decision in court.
Ukraine needs European values and Europe’s solidarity
April 4, 2016
Ahead of a referendum in the Netherlands on the association agreement between the European Union and Ukraine, Olexi Pasyuk from the National Ecological Centre of Ukraine discusses the agreement’s importance for Ukraine’s civil society and why Europe must still improve how it engages with the country.
