Post 2020 EU budget: Commission proposal promises sustainability but continues funding contradictory policies
May 2, 2018
Budapest, Brussels, Prague – Today the European Commission published its proposal for the next EU budget after 2020, the Multiannual Financial Framework. Civil society organisations within the People’s Budget campaign [1] call on Member States to translate the Commission’s pitch into the bold proposal that Europe needs for a brighter future.
How to improve disclosure in World Bank public-private partnership projects?
January 19, 2016
The World Bank is currently inviting comments for its consultation on disclosure in public-private partnership projects. Deadline for inputs 29th February 2016.
Castor project sends Project Bonds Initiative shockwaves, taxpayers hit worst
December 2, 2014
In July 2013, the much-hyped joint European commission/EIB ‘Project Bond Initiative’ (PBI) had scarcely got off the ground – in its pilot phase at least – when unusual natural events took over. Work at the EUR 1.7 billion Castor underground gas storage plant off the coast of Valencia commenced in summer 2013. But by mid-September the Spanish government was forced to halt work at the plant after 220 mini earthquakes in the area were detected in less than a month. Local residents reported the tremors following injections of natural gas to prepare Castor for operations. Subsequent research has found that the gas injection provoked 1,000 earthquakes in the region.