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There is extensive literature that defines eco-efficiency as the efficiency with which ecological resources are used to satisfy human needs. It ensures production while consuming fewer natural resources and thus reduces the environmental impact. The aim of this work is to fill the gap in the literature by defining eco-efficiency in terms of production and deaths due to pollution. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and the Malmquist Index (MI) are used for this purpose. Both techniques are applied to 20 European countries during the period 2014–2018. In addition, the spatial dependence of eco-efficiency obtained in the DEA analysis is studied using geostatistical techniques. The results reveal the good performance of almost all European countries, which are conditioned neither by their wealth nor by their economic growth. Eastern European countries show the most room for improvement. Finally, the spatial dependence of eco-efficiency in Europe during the period 2014–2018 was confirmed by detecting a significant cluster of low eco-efficiency countries in Eastern Europe. Researchers and policymakers can benefit from the results to provide country-specific investment policies to achieve higher benefits towards eco-efficiency in Europe. • Eco-efficiency level in no way underlies changes in productivity. • Environmental policies are not conditioned by a country's wealth or economic growth. • The descriptive spatial study confirmed a spatial dependence in the eco-efficiency. • Eastern European countries must improve their eco-efficiency levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public demand for environmental policies can only influence policies when political parties incorporate environmentalism into their platforms. The economic downturn that began in 2009 may have caused European parties to abandon their commitment to environmentalism as they focused on solutions to the economic crisis. Particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, where commitment to the environment is not as central to party competition, public environmental concerns may have been placed on the periphery of the policy agenda. Examining this issue, this study finds that political parties, especially mainstream parties, in Western Europe represented economic and environmental preferences of voters about equally as well in 2013 as they did prior to the economic crisis. However, in Central and Eastern Europe, parties tended to be less responsive to environmental preferences, presumably because economic differences dominate political divisions in newer democracies. It is concluded that environmental interests are well protected by mainstream actors in the West, though less so in Europe’s newer democracies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Discusses changes in Eastern Europe's energy and environmental policies. Efficient power generation for reductions in loadings and pollution; Sulfur dioxide emissions in Eastern Europe; Estimates of clean up costs; Net heat values of fuels; Nuclear power problems; Causes of inefficient power production.