EU Funds in Central and Eastern Europe: Cohesion or Collision?

This interactive map shows a selection of 22 environmentally damaging or otherwise disputable projects, with a total cost of around €6 billion, that are being realised or planned in CEE countries. Most of them are still waiting for approval in order to receive co-financing from the EU’s Structural and Cohesion Funds. These projects are on a collision course with the EU’s own policies and goals. This is not how EU taxpayers' money should be used. Such projects must be modified or stopped.

Read on...

EU funds - how much money and for what?
EU funds and transport: avoiding the vicious circle
EU funds and energy: boosting efficiency and renewables
EU funds and waste: goodbye to the throw-away society?
EU funds and nature protection
EU funds in the old member states: a mixed record
EU funds and fuel prices
EU funds and GDP
EU funds and corruption
Improving the use of EU funds

Plans for 2007 – 2013

Major projects planned in the new member states

EU funds for climate-friendly energy and transport

Downloads

The whole map with background information [PDF 642kB]
Map for media reproduction [PDF 4,87MB]

Media

Press release - March 10, 2006
Scramble for EU funds threatens environment in eastern states - The Independent, March 11, 2006

Correspondence

Letter to President of the European Commission Barroso - March 28, 2006 [PDF]
Response from DG Regional Policy - April 28, 2006 [PDF]
Letter with six recommendations on major projects to DG Regional Policy - May 24, 2006 [PDF]
Response from DG Regional Policy - June 23, 2006 [PDF]
Reply to DG Regional Policy - July 13, 2006 [PDF]

Response from DG Regional Policy - September 13, 2006 [PDF]

Improving transparency in EU funding of major projects: Contribution by 41 NGOs to the consultation on the European Transparency Initiative - August 31, 2006 [PDF]

Contacts

For any further enquiries please contact:
billions@foeeurope.org
Bankwatch network Friends of the Earth Europe