EU budget negotiations: a zero-sum game?
October 3, 2012
The seven-year EU budget could unlock investment and jobs, but only if the shadow-boxing around the negotiating table ends now.
Continued EU budget battle could sacrifice clean energy investments and clog economic recovery
September 25, 2012
Continued debates about a reduction of the future EU budget jeopardise the potential of using EU funds for energy efficiency and renewables investments to provide necessary economic stimulus and climate mitigation.
Climate action missing as ministers dance around EU budget ‘Pandora’s box’
September 24, 2012
Brussels, Belgium — Today’s General Affairs Council meeting to discuss the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 (MFF) saw further stalemate between those member states seeking to ensure no cuts to the European commission’s outline MFF proposals, and those member states determined that cuts must occur while insisting that the emphasis must instead be on the ‘quality’ of future MFF spending.
EU budget 2014-2020: Implementing the climate commitment
September 10, 2012
To reach the EU agreed climate and energy targets by 2020, the European Commission states that at least 20% of the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-2020 should support climate action. The Coalition for a Sustainable EU budget strongly supports this initiative and ask to increase it to 25% of the next MFF. In order to have a proper legal basis, this commitment should be included in the Negotiating Box and in the Inter-Institutional Agreement.
EU budget 2014-2020: Implementing climate commitment and tracking climate spending
July 30, 2012
This comprehensive briefing offers detailed comments and suggestions on how climate action should and can be implemented and mainstreamed in the future spending period of the EU budget.
Transport in the EU Budget: Making spending sustainable – Priorities for the TEN-T Guidelines and the Connecting Europe Facility
June 10, 2012
Transport is the only sector where greenhouse gas emissions are still increasing. Without decisive new action, transport GHG emissions are expected to grow by 74% until 2050. The Commission has pledged that at least 20% of the proposed €1 trillion EU budget for 2014-2020 will go towards climate mitigation and adaptation goals. This paper outlines how these commitments can be put into practice in the regulations on CEF and the TEN-T guidelines.
Fossil fuels rebranded as low-carbon also in Cohesion Policy discussions
June 1, 2012
Discussions in the European Parliament on the next Cohesion Policy have seemingly been taken hostage by fossil fuel friendly interests – once again with Poland taking the lead.
Recommendations to achieve a sustainable Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020
January 23, 2012
The 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (EU budget) will be a decisive tool for Europe to demonstrate that it can achieve economic and social prosperity by committing to a decarbonised, resource and energy-efficient and socially just economy. This briefing recommends to further strengthen the European Commission’s budget proposal by shifting allocations and spending priorities to sectors of the green economy, eventually helping to create more jobs and future proof green markets.
