EU funds spent on ‘environmentally harmful’ projects
EUObserver | February 2, 2012BRUSSELS – Waste incinerators instead of recycling, highways running through nature parks, airports in protected areas – 33 projects in central and eastern Europe funded with €16 billion out of the EU’s regional policy coffers are “environmentally harmful”, says a study published on Thursday (2 February) by Friends of the Earth Europe and Bankwatch, a coalition of environmental NGOs. “These 33 projects are economically dubious, socially harmful and in breach of environmental law,” Markus Trilling from Friends of the Earth Europe said during a press briefing.
Kopp: Roffstoffe als Chance für Entwicklung nutzen
epo.de | February 1, 2012Berlin. – Deutsche Unternehmen haben sich in einer Roffstoff-Allianz zusammengeschlossen, um sich gemeinsam an Rohstoff-Projekten im Ausland zu beteiligen. Die Parlamentarische Staatssekretärin im Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ), Gudrun Kopp, sieht darin eine Chance für Entwicklungsländer, ihre Einnahmen zu steigern. Die Erlöse müssten aber der Allgemeinheit in den rohstoffreichen Ländern zugute kommen.
Kyrgyzstan: Gold Mine Could Exacerbate Central Asian Water Woes—Report
eurasianet | January 31, 2012Two new studies say that Kumtor, Kyrgyzstan’s largest gold mine, as well as a major government revenue source, routinely ignores national environmental legislation and restricts access to independent auditors. The mine’s operations could have a far-reaching, detrimental effect on Central Asia’s water supply, one of the reports suggests.
Mining threatens herders in Mongolia: report
AFP | January 30, 2012BEIJING — Mining in southern Mongolia is threatening the livelihoods of herders and straining water supplies, a report said Monday, as foreign companies race to exploit the country’s rich mineral deposits.
Moscou Saint-Pétersbourg : l’autoroute de la discorde
Nouvel Observateur | January 23, 2012La construction du premier tronçon de l’autoroute entre Moscou et Saint-Pétersbourg a commencé. Une route de 43 kms qui passe en plein cœur de la forêt de Khimki, au grand dam des écologistes. Un chantier confié à la société Vinci Concession. Reportage.
Sustainability rules over future EU regional funds
EurActiv | January 23, 2012The EU’s next budget is likely to include the first-ever binding document setting “stronger” and “clearer” objectives for regional funds to support sustainable development.
Greening the European Investment Bank
European Voice | January 10, 2012The EIB now promotes clean energy more – but fossil fuels still dominate its energy portfolio.
Lender Abets Europe’s Addiction to Fossil Fuels
The National | January 9, 2012The EIB lends more to the energy sector than to any other, except transport – and its €72bn total loan portfolio last year made it a bigger lender than the World Bank.
Greening the European Investment Bank
Project Syndicate | December 23, 2011BRUSSELS – Over the past four years, the European Investment Bank – the European Union’s house bank – has loaned €48 billion ($62 billion) to energy projects around the world. Indeed, the EIB lends more to the energy sector than to any other, except transport (and its €72 billion total loan portfolio in 2010 made it a bigger lender than the World Bank).
CEE Bankwatch Network report on European Investment Bank energy lending 2007-2010
ENDS Europe | December 12, 2011http://www.endsreport.com/31734/cee-bankwatch-network-report-on-european-investment-bank-energy-lending-2007-2010
