EU funds spending plans in Hungary: the dark side is in the details
February 2, 2016
Hungary allocates a relatively high amount of EU Funds to energy but an in-depth analysis shows a lack of direct, non-refundable support in renovation of residential buildings, significant finance for burning instead of preventing waste and potentially unsustainable use of biomass.
EU funds spending plans in Estonia: The long and rocky path away from shale oil
February 1, 2016
While Estonia plans to use a large part of its EU funds investments for infrastructure projects in the public sector, there is no real political will to reduce the use of fossil fuels.
EU funds spending plans in Latvia: What’s hidden behind the ‘green veneer’?
January 29, 2016
The millions of EU Cohesion Policy money are choosing the ‘darker side’ of Latvia’s renewable energy sources.
Bring on the money, don’t ask for results. EU funds spending plans in the Czech Republic
January 28, 2016
The Czech Republic’s EU funds’ documents tick all the formal boxes, but the carbon intensity of its economy will most likely not change much.
What EU money can’t buy: Poland’s green energy transition just out of reach
January 26, 2016
Billions of euros of European funds will be invested in Poland between 2014 and 2020 under the heading of sustainable development and climate action. But without sound strategies and political will to decarbonise its economy, Europe’s biggest coal addict is set to waste the transformative potential of EU money – and Brussels is letting it happen.
NEW REPORT: Misguided spending by enfants terribles is undermining Europe’s transition to a fossil-free future
January 26, 2016
Brussels/Prague, 25 January 2016 – EU billions destined to transform the carbon-intensive, inefficient energy systems of central and eastern Europe are being misspent, finds a new report today by CEE Bankwatch Network and Friends of the Earth Europe. Bad spending plans and a lack of climate commitments from nine central and eastern European governments is hampering Europe’s transition away from fossil fuels, the groups say.
Misuse of EU funds holds back Europe’s clean energy transition
January 26, 2016
The new member states from Central Europe misuse the EU funding aimed at decarbonising their energy systems.
Climate’s enfants terribles. How new Member States’ misguided use of EU funds is holding back Europe’s clean energy transition
January 26, 2016
This report published by Bankwatch and Friends of the Earth Europe shows how bad spending plans and a lack of climate commitments from nine central and eastern European governments is hampering Europe’s transition away from fossil fuels. The research reveals that in CEE countries only 7 per cent of the 178 billion euros in European Regional Development and Cohesion Funds will be invested into renewables, energy efficiency and smart grids, and that the integration of climate considerations into all plans and projects – as required under EU law – remains superficial.
At the start of spending: Environmental partners still ostracised
December 15, 2015
An assessment of the application of the “European Code of Conduct on Partnership” during the establishment of the national implementation bodies and the first phase of ESI Funds implementation in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Poland and Slovakia.
New money, old ideas – How EU spending plans for central and eastern Europe are selling short a greener future
December 11, 2014
This comprehensive analysis of draft government spending plans for the allocation of EU budget money shows that central and Eastern European countries are planning to use unacceptable amounts of their €350 billion allocation on dirty energy projects, polluting forms of transport and incinerators. The study was published by CEE Bankwatch Network and Friends of the Earth Europe. See also this interactive visualisation of the spending plans.