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Coalition
for sustainable EU funds

Delivering Sustainable Development: Environmental NGOs' common position on the European Regional Policy after 2006
May 2004
BG - CZ - DE - EN - ES - EST - FR - HU - LT - LV - PL - SI - SK
 

Programming the EU funds for 2007-2013
Krakow, 25-26 November 2005

Partnership Principle in Practice: NGO Involvement in the EU Funds Programming, Management and Control
Brussels, 21-23 October 2004

Today and Tomorrow of EU funds
Brussels, 26-28 February 2004
 

Contact data and website addresses
EU and national coalitions


EU Coalition

Friends of the Earth Europe

CEE Bankwatch Network

World Wide Fund for Nature

BirdLife International

Milieukontakt Oost-Europa

CEEWEB

European Environmental Bureau
 

Structural and Cohesion Funds
Representing more than one third of the EU's budget, Structural and Cohesion Funds are an important instrument of solidarity between richer and poorer or disadvantaged regions of Europe. The EU funds constitute substantial financial assistance to the recipient countries and regions that shapes the long-term economic, environmental and social development. There is a great potential for the funds to foster sustainable patterns of development - as long as they are used properly, which has not always been the case.

The Coalition
Currently, decisions are being taken on what the new Structural and Cohesion Funds will look like and what will be financed in the period 2007-2013. Therefore Friends of the Earth Europe, CEE Bankwatch Network, World Wide Fund for Nature , BirdLife International, Milieukontakt Oost-Europa, CEEWEB and European Environmental Bureau - in co-operation with other national NGOs in the EU-25 - set up an NGO coalition. The aim of the Coalition is to influence the current reform of the EU funds in order to make sure that they are spent efficiently, in a transparent manner and that they contribute to sustainable development. See our core position paper on the reform!

If not used properly, the funds may actually have a negative rather than positive effect on the environment. If they are not subject to full public scrutiny and consultation, they may end up supporting private rather than public interests and even be subject to fraud. Efficient, transparent and environmentally sustainable use of EU aid is of significant interest both to people in the recipient countries and to European taxpayers.

Preparing for the 2007-2013 period
At the EU level, new regulations have been adopted, defining the rules for the EU funds for 2007-2013, including provisions on protection of the environment and public participation.

The regulations are accompanied by the so-called Community Strategic Guidelines which set the common EU priorities for which the EU funds should be used in 2007-2013.

At the national and regional levels, the programming process is still going on: authorities are planning how they will use the incoming funds in 2007-13. They have to draft a general National Strategic Reference Framework and the more specific Operational Programmes. The documents then have to be approved by the Commission. It is very important to ensure that the funding programmes support sustainable development and that civil society is actively involved in their preparation and monitoring.