Countries propose energy projects for EU funding

Member states have tabled a diverse wish-list of projects they want the EU's new investment fund to support, with a lignite mine, wind farms and electricity interconnectors all in the running.

Twenty-nine percent of the projects are focused on energy while 9% are environment-related, including a Spanish project to build wastewater treatment plants and UK flood risk programmes.

Other candidates include a €4bn Spanish project to connect its electricity grid with France, German and British proposals for North Sea offshore wind projects, and a North-South gas corridor supplying Eastern European states which is requesting €1.1bn from the fund. Poland has proposed a long-term project to develop a new lignite mine and power plant.