This report presents an analysis of the planned spending of European Structural and Investment funds in the Czech Republic, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia for 2014-2020. It assesses whether the spending plans, in their current form, are set to deliver on the EU’s promise of sustainable and resource-efficient development in central and eastern Europe. It focuses on allocations …
Protecting resources and using them respectfully
The total amount of natural resources is limited. Non-renewable raw materials such as metals and oil are being used up. Other resources such as soils, water, or the atmosphere are overused. The amount of resource consumption due to our consumption of goods and services is enormous, and even today, it is far greater than what …
The hidden cost of EU trade deals
This report compiles all publicly available data on investor-state dispute settlement cases taken against EU member states since 1994. It highlights the irrefutable attack on recent EU accession countries and the environment, as well as the cost this system has already had on EU taxpayers and European democracy. The ‘investor-state dispute settlement’ mechanism has been …
Fracking Frenzy: how the fracking industry is threatening the planet
The global development of ‘unconventional’ fossil fuels such as shale gas has provoked much debate involving scientists, industry, political decision-makers, environmental groups and civil society. More than a decade of large-scale development in North America has left a legacy of environmental damage, primarily resulting from the use of high-volume horizontal hydraulic-fracturing (also known as ‘fracking’) …
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Model legal frameworks for citizen-owned renewable energy
This report, by the Community Power project partner ClientEarth, argues that community power is an essential element in Europe’s low carbon energy transition. It includes case studies from Spain, Germany, Denmark and the UK that demonstrate best legal practice, and sets out 11 policy recommendations. It also explains how Member States can use existing EU …
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Financing mechanisms for community energy projects
This compilation of best practical examples contributes to the development of viable financing and investment schemes for Community Power particularly in Central and Eastern European countries. It makes recommendations to to tackle financial barriers that prevent or delay the development of community-owned energy projects in the region. It draws conclusions for an optimal mix of financial …
