18/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) has commented on the Third Cohesion Report, which was presented by Commissioner Barnier, saying that this is a step in the right direction, as the report contains "clear statements of Natura 2000, renewable energy, support for the framework-directive on water and sustainable transport". However, the WWF believes that money should also have been made available for environmental projects. Too often in the past, projected financed by the structural funds have caused environmental conflict, with national and regional governments free to set environmental objectives as they see fit, says the organisation. The director of its European Policy Office, Tony Long, said: "the old EU rhetoric of calling for greater protection of the environment without effect regulations and means of implementation just doesn't work. We have here an historical moment to put Europe on a clear path to environmental protection that EU governments cannot afford to miss".