Green 10 letter: State of the European Union after Brexit – time for a new direction
June 27, 2016
Following the vote of UK citizens to leave the European Union, the group of ten of the leading environmental networks active at European level comment on the need to engage in a new reflection on the future direction of Europe. Now more than ever, it is crucial for the EU to show it is united, not paralysed, and remains willing and able to act for the benefit of its citizens and their natural environment.
Civil society Europe statement following the results of the British referendum
June 24, 2016
Civil Society Europe brings together thirty European civil society networks around the European values of sustainability, equality, solidarity, democracy and inclusion. We now await, from the European institutions, a reaction which puts these values at the centre of European policy and which starts a genuine civil dialogue between the institutions and civil society. For our organisations, which bring together tens of millions of members, this is the only way to respond to the crises in society which have influenced the way in which citizens think about the European project.
The ETS Modernisation Fund: Catalysing a locally-driven energy transition in central and eastern Europe
June 21, 2016
Energy Cities, Counter Balance, CEE Bankwatch Network and Change Partnership see the ongoing revision of the European ETS as a crucial opportunity to support the EU in meeting its 2030 climate targets, deliver on the Paris agreement and accelerate the locally driven energy transition. We welcome the proposal to establish an ETS (Emission Trading System) Modernisation Fund for low-income Member States.
Submission to European Court of Justice: Request to release documents on European Commission decision on Euratom loan for Ukraine
June 16, 2016
Earlier in 2016, Bankwatch approached the European Commission’s Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs, and made a request for documents related to the EUR 300 million Euratom loan for Ukraine’s nuclear safety upgrade programme. Specifically, we asked for the evidence used by the Commission in making the first EUR 100 million disbursement from the loan.
The European Investment Bank and its energy sector lending 2013-2015
June 14, 2016
This analysis of the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) energy lending shows that the bank has been effectively hindering Europe’s energy transition. Most notably, during 2013-2015, EIB lending to renewables in Europe has dropped whereas its lending to fossil fuels has modestly but consistently increased. Moreover, while EU leaders have repeatedly emphasised the ‘energy efficiency first’ principle, the EIB has been lagging behind with only 3.6% of its lending across sectors going to energy conservation projects.
Household survey in Drmno shows negative impacts of Kostolac B3 project, Drmno mine
June 13, 2016
This sociological survey included 162 (or 65.9%) of the registered 246 households in Drmno, Serbia. It illustrates the bleak reality in the village where a large majority of households have health problems, cracks in houses and other negative impacts from the nearby lignite power plant and mine. The document is only available in Serbian. See also Bankwatch member CEKOR’s website [sr] for information on the survey.
EFSI case study: Bratislava bypass: A transport public-private partnership with high costs and limited benefits
June 8, 2016
The so-called European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) should unlock additional investment of at least EUR 315 billion over a three year period (2015-2017). One of the projects benefiting from the financing concerns the design, construction, operation and maintenance of about 27km of a motorway around Bratislava. The project will come with high costs, will damage biodiversity and likely not solve local transport problems.
Response to statements regarding CEKOR in the Serbian media
June 7, 2016
CEKOR, as a non-governmental watchdog organisation, has since 1999 strived to promote sustainable development in Serbia and has a strong track record in supporting local communities harmed by development projects to advocate for their rights.
EFSI case study: Energy efficiency in residential buildings in France: Energy Performance Contracting to boost investments
June 6, 2016
The so-called European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) should unlock additional investment of at least EUR 315 billion over a three year period (2015-2017). One of the projects benefiting from the EU financing is a program that aims to promote energy efficiency in the housing stock through the funding of certain regional/local initiatives supporting energy renovation of private residential buildings in France.
Western Balkans countries invest at least 2.4 times as much in coal as in wind power
May 26, 2016
All the Western Balkans countries have committed to increase their share of renewable energy by 2020 to reach between 25 and 40 percent of their energy mix, as part of their obligations under the Energy Community Treaty. Yet this is far from obvious when examining their investment plans for new power generation capacity. Governments are actively planning to build 2800 MW of new coal plants with construction cost of at least EUR 4.5 billion. In contrast, these countries are only planning to build around 1166 MW of wind power plants, at an estimated cost of EUR 1.89 billion.
