Environmental NGOs urge the EU institutions to adopt a fossil fuel free Cohesion Policy
In order to exclude the support of fossil fuels from the future Cohesion Policy funding, environmental NGOs led by WWF, CAN Europe and CEE, addressed the European institutions with an open letter.
ECOS co-signed the letter calling on the EU to:
- exclude fossil fuel investments from EU financing;
- involve all relevant stakeholders in all programming, implementation and monitoring of EU cohesion policy;
- ensure that all EU funding programmes and projects are embedded in strategies that support climate objectives.
Cohesion Policy funding aims to reduce territorial disparities across EU’s regions, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. But it is also important that it channels investments in clear energy for these regions, so as to support a just transition to climate neutrality.
The negotiations on the 2021 to 2027 multiannual financial framework are considered fundamental in aligning EU funding with climate objectives. The issue whether fossil fuels are in or out from the Cohesion Policy will be discussed in the coming weeks. The signatories of the open letter urge the EU institutions involved to accept the recommendations and negotiate a Cohesion Policy that can address climate neutrality.
