Uncertain future for Slovakia’s development funds
August 22, 2019
The Slovak government does not seem to understand the difference between export promotion and development aid, as it proposes to lump the two under one institution, Eximbanka SR.
Slovakia’s climate duplicity
August 15, 2019
At home, Slovakia pays lip service to the climate issues, but abroad – it does not even bother pretending. As it continues to finance crude oil facilities in Cuba, its real climate ambitions are laid bare.
The secret life of export credit agencies
August 1, 2019
When respectable, risk-averse development banks turn away from a project, oftentimes export credit agencies (ECAs) are the ones to step in. These government-backed institutions manage hundreds of billions of dollars annually, investing mostly in large infrastructure projects in politically-volatile countries, while avoiding the same scrutiny as other public financiers.
Just transition
July 31, 2019
Working on just transition brings all actors who believe in fair regional redevelopment to the same table: unions, industry, public administration, governments, civil society and others sharing this goal. They should be working together to find what is best for their regions and communities, from creating good quality jobs to identifying sustainable alternatives.
For the third year in a row, the European Commission asks Romania to stop big polluters
July 29, 2019
The European Commission’s July 2019 infringements package list [1] prominently features Romania. The country is called out for its industrial installations operating without an environment permit and “a systemic failure to monitor air pollution”.
Seven Golden Rules for open and inclusive just transition planning at the regional level
July 15, 2019
Every region and every community is different. As EU countries wake up to the climate emergency and the need for a swift transition to a sustainable and carbon-neutral society, it is becoming increasingly clear that we need regional and community-level
Slovak government approves Just Transition plan for Upper Nitra
July 3, 2019
The Slovak government is today approving a plan for Upper Nitra’s transition away from coal, which was created based on inputs from the local community.
Bankwatch statement on the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality goal and central and eastern European country positions
June 20, 2019
“With Germany now backing the EU’s 2050 carbon neutrality goal, all eyes are on Poland and other countries of central and eastern Europe that have to date refused to back this target because of their reliance on coal.
A treasured World Heritage Site in Bulgaria is under threat from a trans-European road network – Equal Times
June 19, 2019
From Valentin Stoichkov’s terrace, the views over the Pirin Mountains are breathtaking. The deputy mayor of the small town of Kresna, in south-western Bulgaria, has built an extension to his family’s modest dacha (summer home) in the foothills of this
ARCHIVED: Export Credit Agencies (ECAs)
June 18, 2019
With many billions of dollars at their disposal, export credit agency finance far outpaces that of development banks and yet avoids the same public scrutiny. Most money flows into large infrastructure projects in politically-volatile countries that oft
