Climate’s enfants terribles: How new Member States’ misguided use of EU funds is holding back Europe’s clean energy transition

This report, released by CEE Bankwatch Network and Friends of the Earth Europe, shows that EU billions intended to revamp the carbon-intensive, inefficient energy systems of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) are being misspent. In nine 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. At the same time the integration of climate considerations into all plans and projects – as required under EU law – remains superficial.
The report includes a comprehensive set of recommendations for improvements to the climate change mitigation performance of EU funds during implementation, to ensure that EU funds contribute to Europe’s energy transition in a meaningful way.