New EU mechanism to help workers and regions make fossil free shift is not enough

14 January 2020

The European Commission has launched proposals for a package to help workers and communities make the shift to fossil free societies – a policy Friends of the Earth Europe and unions have for years demanded. The proposal is part of the EU Green Deal, unveiled in December 2019.

18 December 2019

An atmosphere of attack - new podcast

A vibrant and protected civic space is an essential part of a healthy democracy - but it's under attack.

16 Friends of the Earth member organisations have told us they are facing restrictions, intimidation, harassment and attacks - what we collectively call 'shrinking space'.

In this episode of our podcast we hear how shrinking space for civil society is affecting our members in Austria and in Cyprus, what the causes are - and importunatly how to respond.

Austria, Cyprus
11 December 2019

EU Green Deal: fails to slam on the brakes

In only her second week in office, new European Commission President von der Leyen has today set out a major environmental package to set the EU on a new environmental and climate path.

9 December 2019

Obscure energy treaty could thwart EU green deal

An obscure investment treaty, the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), could undermine the goals of Europe’s Green Deal, unless it is fundamentally revised in negotiations that trail its annual conference this week in Brussels, over 250 civil society organisations and trade unions warn.

4 December 2019

System change or bust

System change: Europe’s environmental and climate warning signals are flashing red according to a comprehensive ‘State of the Environment’ survey published by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

2 October 2019

What values will von der Leyen really uphold?

Actions speak louder than words, what values will the new European Commission President really uphold?

This joint article by the organisations listed below was first published in EurActiv.

16 September 2019

MEPs should reject misguided “One in, one out principle”

Friends of the Earth Europe, with its partners in the Green 10, has today expressed its deep concern regarding the introduction of a "One in, one out" principle for new legislation, as planned by European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen.

The proposed principle calls for any new initiative that creates a burden on businesses to be compensated by relieving an equivalent existing burden in the same policy area.

10 September 2019

New EU Commission must rise to climate challenge

Nominees and portfolios for the next European Commission were put forward today in Brussels by the European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen.

Given the context of the climate crisis, Friends of the Earth Europe is challenging the Commission to deliver urgent and massive transformation, and is questioning some of the priorities of the proposed new structure.

Jagoda Munić, director of Friends of the Earth Europe said:

2 July 2019

Stop political repression of Human Rights defenders in Russia!

Friends of the Earth Europe condemns Russia’s latest sanctions against the environmental organisation Ecodefense, under the unjust “Foreign Agent” law. The law, which has been in effect since 2012,  requires groups that receive foreign funding and engage in “political activity” to register as “foreign agents”.

Russia
20 June 2019

Climate not prioritised enough in EU five year agenda

Heads of state and government have set priorities for EU cooperation over the next five years at a summit in Brussels today – but have not gone far enough in prioritising action on the climate emergency, reacted Friends of the Earth Europe.

Friends of the Earth Europe called for a bold vision and action for transformational change to tackle climate and ecological breakdown and inequality.

Jagoda Munic, director of Friends of the Earth Europe said:

5 June 2019

Protests at pan-European motorway project as time runs out for key wildlife site

Dozens of activists from across Europe have protested and dropped a banner at an international road in Kresna gorge, Bulgaria, to protest against the lack of action from the European Commission and the Bulgarian government to save the key EU-protected wildlife site.

Bulgaria

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