Treaty reforms to be finalized in first half of 2020 – Energy Community Ministerial Council
The negotiations on the Energy Community Treaty reforms are expected to end in the first half of 2020, the Energy Community’s Ministerial Council concluded at the meeting in Chișinău, Moldova. For the first time, the Treaty will task the Energy Community (EnC) to combat climate change and underlines the importance of the Paris Agreement, according […]
EU approves EUR 57 million Croatian support for HEP District Heating
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, Croatian plans to support the EUR 57 million modernization of a district heating system in the city of Zagreb (Croatia) by the city’s district heating operator HEP Toplinarstvo (HEP District Heating). The investment aid will support the modernization of the hot water network through the […]
Bulgaria’s funding for waste incinerator CHP greenlighted by EU
The European Commission said on November 25 that it gave the go-ahead for Bulgaria’s proposal to back a project for a high-efficient cogeneration system in the capital city. The overwhelming part of the EUR 93.8 million plan for the waste incinerator is money from the trade bloc’s structural funds. The remaining EUR 3 million will […]
11 mayors from region join EU-wide declaration on just transition to post-coal era
A group of 41 mayors from 10 coal regions in 9 European countries including 11 mayors from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, and Romania have signed a declaration supporting a just transition to the post-coal era. The signatory mayors also come from Germany, Slovakia, Poland, and the Czech Republic, while two are from non-EU […]
Western Balkans urged to end subsidies for destructive small hydropower – report
The European Commission and the Energy Community need to play a role in ending state financial support for destructive hydropower plants in the Western Balkans by ensuring that the EU’s rules on state aid – including provisions on environmental sustainability – are applied in the region, according to a new report released today by CEE […]
Greece working on new energy storage support framework
Greece’s energy regulator, RAE, is preparing a new energy storage support framework to foster renewable energy growth, chairman Nikolaos Boulaxis has said at the Thessaloniki International Fair. The new energy storage support framework should be completed by the end of 2019, Boulaxis said, energypress reported. “The future of renewable energy is linked to the ability […]
Romania, Slovenia among five countries eyeing new European Commission’s energy portfolio
Five EU member states, including Estonia, Latvia, Romania, Poland, and Slovenia, are interested in getting the energy portfolio in the next European Commission, HotNews.ro reported. The candidates for European energy commissioner are Kadri Simson from Estonia, Virginijus Sinkevicius, Linas Linkevicius or Saulius Skvernelis from Latvia, Luminita Odobescu from Romania, Krzysztof Szczerski from Poland, and Janez […]
EU refers Bulgaria to court for high values of SO2 caused by coal-fired power plants
The European Commission has decided to refer Bulgaria and Spain to the Court of Justice of the EU over poor air quality. The reason in Bulgaria’s case is failing to respect the limit values of sulfur dioxide (SO2). This decision is part of reinforced action by the European Commission (EC) to engage with EU Member […]