The Connecting Europe Facility for Energy: Funding fiction, failing climate
July 15, 2025
The Clean Industrial Deal envisions an expansion of both hydrogen and carbon capture throughout the EU. The experts’ prevailing view is that hydrogen can only advance the energy transition in a few hard-to-abate sectors, and there are serious concerns over the very viability of carbon capture, especially at scale. Yet our latest analysis reveals that a little-known EU infrastructure fund has been handing out hundreds of millions to these dubious technologies.
ANALYSIS: Race begins to shape rules for EU nature market amid demand dilemma
July 10, 2025
The newly launched EU roadmap for nature credits is sparking heated debate over who should design market rules, as observers say strong methodologies and governance frameworks are key to integrity, though demand is unlikely to grow without regulatory measures from the Commission.
Flawed by design: How the Connecting Europe Facility still backs the fossil-fuel industry
July 8, 2025
We expose the role of the Connecting Europe Facility, a little-known EU infrastructure fund, in feeding the hydrogen hoopla.
The threat to the EU’s LIFE programme in the next budget
June 26, 2025
The EU’s new priorities are at a major crossroads. The once cutting-edge European Green Deal is now ditched in favour of defence, security and competitiveness. These discussions are taking place against the backdrop of the much-anticipated future EU budget, the financial resource responsible for driving forward the EU’s goals.
LIFE for nature: Why Europe’s flagship environmental programme must remain part of the next EU budget
June 26, 2025
Our publication showcases successful LIFE-funded projects from Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia and Slovenia. These inspiring examples demonstrate the programme’s positive impact on a wide range of ecosystems – and why it must continue to support nature in the next EU budget.
Climbing together: Is the Social Climate Fund working for those who need it most?
June 13, 2025
This report evaluates the quality of stakeholder involvement and the design of national social climate plans in Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.
Joint NGO statement on the future of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) in the post-2027 EU budget
May 28, 2025
This joint statement signed by 68 civil society organisations calls on the EU to ensure dedicated funds for environmental protection and just transition of coal-dependent regions in the Western Balkans
On the Mid-Term Review Proposal for Amendments in the ERDF, CF and JTF regulations
May 9, 2025
This letter includes comments on the changes in the European Regional Development Fund, Cohesion Fund and Just Transition Fund regulations related to the mid-term review
Keeping the flame alive with emission revenues: How the EU Modernisation Fund props up fossil gas and waste incineration
May 8, 2025
In operation since 2021, the Modernisation Fund was designed to channel EU emission trading revenues into investments in the energy transition in 13 lower-income Member States.
Proposals for the next EU budget
April 24, 2025
Our current crises stem from the environmental and social injustices of past decades. It is therefore essential that we learn from current EU budget instruments to create a coherent, strategic, enforceable and accessible framework for the next EU budget.
