News and Updates

Infrastructure in the developing world: does it need PPPs?

Public-private partnerships have garnered a lot of criticism but continue to be on the agenda of international development banks as a alternative way to finance infrastructure.

Infrastructure in the developing world: does it need PPPs?

Bankwatch Mail invited two specialists, Matt Bull of the World Bank’s Public Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility and David Price of the Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Queen Mary, University of London, to debate the issue of PPPs in the developing world.

Right track, weak attitude. The EU’s Resource Efficiency Roadmap.

The European Commission this week published its ideas on how to build a resource efficient economy in Europe. Bankwatch’s resource efficiency expert Marijan Galovic thinks the roadmap’s focus is not wide enough yet.

In times of crisis – Poland’s take on the Emperor’s New Clothes

Poland has made a worrying proposal on public private partnerships that could risk the future stability of European economies by turning a blind eye to future public debt. But the EU would do well to take the British example as an eye opener.

The sun ain’t shining over Khimki Forest

The Khimki Forest in Russia might see its end signed and sealed this month. But Russian activists have continued their actions to defend Khimki forest also today by carrying out a citizens’ inspection to prevent the still illegal felling of trees.

Vinci concession exposed as cover for oligarchs and tax havens in Russia’s first road PPP

An opaque web of offshore companies and oligarchs behind the controversial Moscow–St. Petersburg motorway public-private partnership provides new grounds for the Russian government to re-examine the project, according to new research by CEE Bankwatch Network and the Movement to Defend Khimki Forest, published today.

Vinci – a cover for oligarchs and tax havens in Russia’s first road PPP

An opaque web of offshore companies and oligarchs behind the controversial EUR 1.5 billion first section of the Moscow–St. Petersburg motorway public-private partnership provides new grounds for the Russian government to re-examine the controversial project, according to this new research by CEE Bankwatch Network and the Movement to Defend Khimki Forest.

20,000 backing Khimki activists calling on Vinci to end involvement in Moscow – St. Petersburg motorway

More than 20,000 people have signed a petition to demand Vinci’s withdrawal from the construction of a highway section through the Khimki Forest in Russia.

Civil society groups welcome cancellation of Slovak D1 motorway PPP

Friends of the Earth CEPA (Slovakia) and CEE Bankwatch Network applaud today’s cancellation [1] of the 9 billion euros public-private partnership (PPP) for the first phase of the D1 motorway in Slovakia and urged the new government to change the project’s routing to avoid damaging the Mala Fatra and Velka Fatra National Parks.

Never mind the balance sheet – the dangers posed by public-private partnerships in central and eastern Europe

In recent years public-private partnerships (PPPs) have been heavily promoted in central and eastern Europe (CEE), often giving the impression that where infrastructure is concerned, PPPs are the only game in town. Yet behind the plethora of conferences, workshops and publications, few CEE countries have implemented more than two or three PPP projects, and even fewer truly successful projects.

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