State of play at EU funds programming half time
December 28, 2013
Analyses and comments elaborated and published in the course of the on-going programming process from May until December 2013 show that the draft planning documents fail to ensure sustainable development, are half-hearted in environmental protection, sideline partners and neglect communities.
Toolkit for the environmental assessment of EU funding
December 28, 2013
This toolkit provides EU funds practitioners, whether it be relevant officials in municipalities, potential EU funds grantees, local communities, civil society organisations or interested members of the public, with an overview of all the legal regulations related to environmental mainstreaming and sustainable development that have been introduced into the forthcoming EU budgetary period of 2014-2020. In practical terms, coverage is provided, too, of the relevant environmental mainstreaming strategies and mechanisms.
Letter regarding EBRD operations in Egypt despite continued human rights violations
December 23, 2013
Prompted by gross human rights violations in Egypt this letter asks for clarification how the EBRD can continue to operate in Egypt even though the EBRD’s mandate states that the bank operates in “countries committed to and applying the principles of multiparty democracy, pluralism and market economics” and its continued operations in Egypt therefore amount to a blatant violation of its commitments as a public institution.
Missing sustainability: The EBRD’s controversial energy lending in Ukraine (2006-2013)
December 20, 2013
While the EBRD’s founding document require it to “promote in the full range of its activities environmentally sound and sustainable development” more than half of the bank’s energy investments in Ukraine for the period 2006-2013 hardly served the purpose of sustainable development promotion. In this period the EBRD has supported nuclear energy production and new output capacities for nuclear power plants, export-oriented infrastructure, as well as controversial initiatives in the renewable energy sector.
Preventing tax loss through offshore financial centres: The EBRD must lead by example
December 12, 2013
In recent years, the EBRD has increasingly recognised the important role that states play in the transition to a well-functioning market economy that is based on strong institutions and the inclusion of all social groups into the economy. For this, states need resources, and taxation is one of the main means to ensure them.
Letter: NGOs call on Director Generals of DG Regio, Clima and Environment to turn around EU funds programming at half time
December 11, 2013
At the present stage, the Partnership Agreements and the Operational Programmes for the next Cohesion Policy period (2014-2020) are not proving to be sufficient for effectively catalysing the EU’s transition towards resource efficient, renewable energy based economies. In this letter to the Director Generals for Regional Policy, Environment and Climate Change, European environmental NGOs raise their worries over the Programming of EU Funds in EU Member States. The main concern is that environmental priorities are not being properly addressed.
Coal and corruption – the case of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
December 9, 2013
The EBRD is about to approve a new energy strategy, yet it is unclear to what extent it will follow other public lenders in halting coal financing. In this paper we step away from the discussions on climate issues to take a look at another reason why the EBRD should be wary of investing in coal projects: corruption.
Local impacts of Danosha pig farms, Ukraine
November 27, 2013
The EBRD is considering a loan to the Ukrainian agribusiness corporation Danosha whose pig farms in the Ivano-Frankvisk region have triggered numerous complains by locals.
NGOs urge China to invest in renewables instead of coal in central and eastern Europe
November 25, 2013
On the occasion of a China – Central and Eastern European Countries summit in Bucharest, NGOs from across the region have written to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang calling on him to support renewable energy and energy efficiency investments, instead of the series of coal projects currently planned across eastern and south-east Europe.
Mobilisation of public-private financing for community based sustainable energy projects – Briefing for local actors
November 25, 2013
Regional and local governments, communities and local action groups are able to receive financial support from the 2014 – 2020 EU budget to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in their communities. This briefing outlines how an optimal public-private financing mix, including European funding, can look and how it can be developed with the involvement of local stakeholders.
