Commission proposals on the 2014-2020 EU budget unveiled in June 2011 establish that future EU spending should contribute to Europe’s transition towards green, low-carbon and climate resilient economy. With a proposed budget of €336 bn, EU Cohesion Policy presents the biggest financial stream aimed to support investment projects in European regions, hence providing important new opportunities for greener development pathways. Traditionally, however, EU Cohesion Policy has prioritised large-scale infrastructural and business developments which have had rather controversial impacts on the environment.
IEEP in cooperation with the Institute for European Studies at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel held an environmental policy forum on 6 February. It aimed to advance the debates on the greening of the proposed legislative package in the context of the unfolding political negotiations. It focused on opportunities, barriers and political challenges for establishing an ambitious policy framework for environment and climate change mainstreaming in the future EU Cohesion Policy. The Forum included presentations by the European Commission, the NGO community and IEEP:
- Chair: Mr Axel Volkery, Head of Environmental Governance Programme, Institute for European Environmental Policy
- “Environmental Policy Integration in Cohesion Policy 2014-2020”
Ms Agnes Kelemen, Policy Officer, DG Regional Policy, European Commission - “Integration of climate action in Cohesion Policy – lessons from CEE countries”
Mr Markus Trilling, EU Funds Campaigner, CEE Bankwatch and Friends of the Earth Europe - “Greening EU Cohesion Policy: Opportunities and challenges ahead”
Ms Keti Medarova-Bergstrom, Policy Analyst, Institute for European Environmental Policy
