The European Union's (eu) plans to spend billions of euros on infrastructure projects in new member states will damage the environment and be socially unnecessary, claims an environment group.

The group, Friends of the Earth, Europe, said eu was prepared to put us $7.15 billion into 22 controversial projects. They include roads that cut through "valuable protected areas', waste incinerators and dams that were "economically unjustified', it added.

Meanwhile, another proposed eu directive states that a member state can no longer refuse to import waste for burning. The Czech Republic has protested claiming it would swamp poorer members with rubbish.