Buk Bijela dam and the Upper Drina cascade
December 13, 2021
Buk Bijela is one of 14 dams planned on the upper Drina and its tributaries. It would block the migration of the majestic Danube salmon and damage local rafting tourism. Its development has been marked by a series of legal violations.
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.
Amulsar gold mine, Armenia
August 16, 2019
Since 2016 the controversial Amulsar gold mine project is being developed by Armenia’s largest foreign investor, an international mining company Lydian, near the touristic spa town of Jermuk.
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.
The Skopje Green City Action Plan – developing a city for citizens or for decision makers?
July 29, 2019
The preparation of the Skopje Green City needs to be transparent and to include citizens and civil society in a meaningful way from the early stages of planning.
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”.
Belgrade incinerator: Serbia to be a dumping ground for outdated technology?
July 22, 2019
The Serbian Ministry of Environment recently published the environmental assessment for the planned Vinča waste incinerator for public consultation. But the study shows no sign that the new plant would be in line with new EU pollution control standards approved in June.
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
