The European Court of Justice has closed the door for individuals and public interest groups to defend environmental interests threatened or harmed by European Union (EU) institutions, such as the European Commission. Greenpeace International, which had brought the case to the Court to challenge the European Commission's funding of two oil-fired power plants in Spain, criticised the ruling of the Court. It appealed to EU governments to instruct the commission to make itself more accountable to the public. The courts ruling will mean that the public's right of access to justice at the European level will be severely limited.