Sustainable recovery

Gas excluded from green bond financing under recovery fund

Green bonds will not finance gas projects included in national recovery plans, according to the new framework put forward by the European Commission on Tuesday (7 September).

Small businesses gain ground in sustainable recovery push

The EU’s recovery fund and new strategy on sustainable finance will expand the role small firms can play in building back the European economy in a sustainable manner, EU officials said.

Lagarde makes a case for ‘green’ capital markets union 

The President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, on Wednesday (29 June) called for initiatives to create a capital markets union for sustainable finance.

EU Commission approves COVID-19 recovery fund for Spain, Portugal

Brussels has approved the coronavirus recovery funds for Spain and Portugal during a visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to the two countries. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.

Commission convinces markets with first issuance of recovery bonds

The European Commission raised €20 billion in the markets on Tuesday (15 June) to start financing the EU’s €800 billion recovery fund, beating its expectations for the planned monthly bond sale.

EU’s building renovation wave hits administrative snag

Differing views within the European Commission on how the EU's unprecedented recovery fund can be spent, and a rush to translate national spending plans from their original language, risk slowing down the EU's building renovation wave, experts say.

Insurers and EU institutions discuss options for pandemic coverage

The European Commission, insurance regulator EIOPA, and the industry have started discussing options to better ensure the protection of businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as the withdrawal of state support measures is expected to reveal the real damage caused by the crisis in the private sector. 

Where is social inclusion in the national recovery plans?

The Recovery Funds should respond to the strategic priorities set out by the European Commission, including employment and fighting poverty. However, an initial assessment of the submitted draft national recovery plans suggests that they largely miss investment in social inclusion and social services reform, writes Alfonso Lara Montero.

Regulators maintain call for prudence in bonuses and dividends payout

Regulators are urging banks and insurance companies to exercise caution in handing out dividend payments to shareholders and bonuses to employees, as Europe continues to struggle to cement its recovery from the Covid pandemic.

LEAK: EU considers expanding role of gas in green finance

The European Commission is reconsidering the position of gas in its sustainable finance taxonomy by recognising the fossil fuel’s role in keeping the lights on during peak electricity demand, according to a leaked document seen by EURACTIV.

EU prepares to turn the screw on asset managers over greenwashing

For money managers and advisers keen to market their sustainable investing credentials to European clients, going green is about to get a lot tougher.

Bigger capital requirements hang over EU insurance sector in Solvency review

EU regulators and the insurance sector disagree over whether the review of the rules for the industry (Solvency II) should include higher capital requirements to deal with risks of interest rate changes, which insurers say would mean less money to support recovery.

EU advisors and Poland’s PGE increase pressure over gas in green finance rules

The European Commission came under new pressure on Monday (22 February) from Poland's biggest power producer, PGE, and its own advisors, over whether to include gas power in EU rules on sustainable finance.

Concerns raised over green spending as EU moves forward with recovery plan

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has called on EU member states to speed up delivery of their national spending plans in order tap into the EU's €750 billion recovery fund, but concerns have been raised over a lack of transparency on how the money may be spent.

Nuclear faces ‘a lot of uncertainty’ as EU green evaluation looms

The industry is growing increasingly nervous about European Commission plans to evaluate the safety of radioactive waste handling as an expert report is expected next month on how to classify nuclear energy under the EU’s green finance taxonomy.

European investment bank loses landmark case on ‘green’ scrutiny

The European Investment Bank (EIB) illegally avoided environmental scrutiny of its financing decisions, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled on Wednesday (27 January).

Europe strongly impacted by extreme weather, says new Climate Risk Index

The Berlin-based think tank Germanwatch published its Climate Risk Index for this year just in time for the virtual Climate Adaption Summit (CAS2021). The Global South tends to suffer more from extreme weather than the North, but Germany is also been among the 20 most severely affected countries worldwide over the past 20 years.

European Central Bank sets up climate team, considers green bonds

Climate change will be key to the review of the European Central Bank's policy, its president, Christine Lagarde, announced on Monday (25 January), marking a possible shift towards 'greener' monetary policy.

Banks ask for better data to implement EU green finance taxonomy 

The availability of good data is seen as one of the main challenges to implement the EU taxonomy on sustainable finance, according to a test conducted by banks published on Monday (25 January).

Brussels postponed green finance rules after 10 EU states wielded veto

The European Commission was forced to delay publication of detailed implementing rules on the EU’s sustainable finance taxonomy because of the sheer number of comments received and a threat of blockage from eastern and southern EU member states, EURACTIV can reveal.

EU agrees to set aside 37% of recovery fund for green transition

Negotiations between the European Parliament and EU member states on the bloc's coronavirus recovery fund concluded early on Friday morning (18 December), unlocking €265 billion of the total €672.5 available for the green transition in EU countries.

Commission prepares ground for ‘ambitious’ sustainable finance strategy

The European Commission will present in early 2021 an “ambitious” sustainable finance strategy to mobilise the private investment needed to meet the EU’s climate targets.

EU gives Hungary and Poland 24 hours to lift veto

The EU will start preparing a recovery fund against the pandemic without Hungary and Poland unless the two countries lift by Tuesday their veto to the EU budget and the stimulus totalling € 1.8 trillion agreed last July, a senior EU diplomat said.