Potocnik says green economy, European public banks say black coal
October 3, 2011 | Read more
The European Union’s internal and external ambitions for green economies are being countered by the activities of European international financial institutions. EU Commissioner for the Environment Potocnik can see that also in his home country Slovenia.
Right track, weak attitude. The EU’s Resource Efficiency Roadmap.
September 22, 2011 | Read more
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.
Greenwashing nuclear expansion in Ukraine, with EU support
September 13, 2011 | Read more
Upgrades of hydro power plants in Ukraine are a prime example for greenwashing nuclear expansion with renewable energy. Alena Miskun from Bankwatch member group National Environmental Centre of Ukraine gives details on the thickening plot that European public banks are involved in.
In times of crisis – Poland’s take on the Emperor’s New Clothes
September 9, 2011 | Read more
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.
Contemplating secure and insecure energy supply
September 7, 2011 | Read more
The EU external energy policy Communication published today by the European Commission continues the decade-long approach of the EU to ensure the unhindered flow of fossil fuel energy supplies to Europe without a real recognition of the problems this drive creates both inside and outside of the EU.
The Bankwatch EIB team read the most recent report by the European Investment Bank on the bank’s crisis lending to small and medium enterprises and they were surprised by its main claims: unlike what the EIB says, our own research shows that EIB crisis loans to SMEs were more helpful to commercial banks disbursing them than to the cash-strapped small and medium enterprises they were supposed to help.
