The map of dubious EU funded projects prepared by Bankwatch and Friends of the Earth Europe has received wide media attention and decision makers have treated a project’s inclusion on the map as a serious blemish.
In four iterations, the Bankwatch map of dubious, EU funded projects drew attention to how not to deploy billions of euros of EU taxpayers’ money in the former communist bloc countries.
These countries continue to waste energy on a vast scale and appear determined to copy western European approaches to unsustainable transport systems.
In collaboration with Friends of the Earth Europe, Bankwatch has followed the use and – too often – abuse of the EU funds in central and eastern Europe for more than ten years.
Our mapping of the unsustainable trends involved in this multi-billion euro spending has vividly captured a wide array of unnecessary projects being promoted by regions and national governments all across the new EU member states.
Each new launch of the map of projects has been accompanied by wide media interest, both in key Brussels-focused publications as well as in national press across our region.
And the map makes an impact among decision-makers too:
If only, then, there could be an end to the badly-conceived projects. EU member states in central and eastern Europe should be prioritising the EU funds for clean and efficient energy, transport and waste projects that can deliver positive effects for the economy, for employment and for our climate.
