EU Funds as a Lever for Climate Action

Topics: Climate Policy Climate Strategies and Plans Finance

Countries: Bulgaria Czech Republic Hungary Latvia Poland Romania Slovakia Slovenia

The project "Directing EU Funds towards Climate Neutrality" demonstrated how EU funding can drive climate action. Civil society organisations (CSOs) gained expertise on the European Green Deal’s financial tools, while decision-makers were made aware of EU funds’ role in achieving climate goals. The work contributed to stricter funding rules and the partial suspension of funds to Hungary and Poland. A key output was a study on the pitfalls of cost-benefit analyses in road construction, still cited in transport policy debates today. Partners also launched a follow-up project to safeguard knowledge, networks and long-term impact.