EU-China leaders’ meeting: EU must do more to tackle legal breaches by Chinese companies in Europe, say civil society organisations
September 14, 2020
The European Union needs to step up its actions on violations of EU law by Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Europe, warned civil society groups working in southeast Europe today (1), as European and Chinese leaders meet online in lieu of the postponed Leipzig summit.
No proper benchmark for checking European Export Credit Agencies’ compliance with EU objectives
September 4, 2020
Despite being the biggest class of public finance institutions operating internationally, export credit agencies (ECAs) are rarely subject to any public scrutiny. European ECAs declare the compliance with the non-binding OECD Common Approaches standards, but it’s an insufficient benchmark for evaluating compliance with the EU’s External Action obligations as stated by the relevant EU Regulation.
EU FUNDS FOR A GREEN RECOVERY: RECOMMENDATIONS TO STEER EU REGIONAL AND RECOVERY FUNDING TOWARDS CLIMATE NEUTRALITY
July 16, 2020
This report highlights investments and measures as listed in NECPs. It proposes new measures which have a great potential to boost climate ambition and a green recovery, and should receive EU and recovery funding as a priority.
New report calls on Member States to steer EU regional and recovery funding towards climate neutrality
July 16, 2020
Ahead of this week’s European Council meeting where Heads of State will gather to discuss and potentially agree on the next term EU budget, the report analyses investments and measures presented in the NECPs of the following 14 Member States: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. It points out the measures in NECPs that are set to receive funding from the next EU budget and recovery funding, makes the case for significant spending improvements to boost climate ambition, and indicates harmful measures in the NECPs that should be excluded from the EU funding.
European Parliament asks European Investment Bank to double down on sustainability and transparency
July 9, 2020
The European Parliament has called on the European Investment Bank (EIB), the world’s largest public lender, to facilitate Europe’s effort to tackle the climate crisis by fully aligning its investment policies and practices with the Paris climate accord.
EU budget breakthrough achievable with higher climate ambition, say campaigners
June 19, 2020
Brussels – Emphasising green spending in the next one trillion plus euros EU budget is the surest way to reach an agreement on the deal while leading the bloc to a more resilient recovery from the pandemic, say campaigners at CEE Bankwatch Network ahead of today’s European Council.
The missing link: Green recovery and energy transition in Hungary and CEE
June 15, 2020
To achieve a green recovery with EU funds, what depends on CEE Member States and what depends on the EU?
A herd of white elephants is approaching the EU’s neighbours
April 30, 2020
Over three quarters of the energy projects proposed by the EU’s neighbours for priority status, including privileged access to public funds, are fossil fuels projects.
Assessment of waste incineration capacities in the Upper Nitra region
March 26, 2020
A new study commissioned by Friends of the Earth-CEPA and Bankwatch estimates that a planned waste incinerator in Novaky, Slovakia will not solve energy, climate or waste issues. According to the analysis, it will be almost impossible for the plant to meet supply quotas and new recycling targets. Considering the high level of CO2 emissions from waste incineration, this solution will furthermore continue to pollute the environment while also preventing Slovakia from investing in renewables.
Irrespective of the size, the EU budget must serve higher climate ambition
February 20, 2020
EU leaders hold today a special European Council meeting where they will discuss and maybe agree on the size and structure of the EU budget for the period 2021-2027. Regardless of the size, current proposals for the EU budget of the next decade fall short of ambitious climate action.
