This story represents one of the few successful examples in Romania but should serve as an inspiration for all the mayors and representatives of the Romanian authorities. Nobody says it’s going to be a smooth sailing when dealing with accessing European funds, but it is important to have well-prepared personnel, a vision for sustainable development and last, but not least, a desire to make positive changes in your community.
The closure of the largest underground mine in Bulgaria, Bobov Dol in the southwest of the country, means Bulgarian authorities are finally forced to think about Just Transition.
China, the Western Balkans and the EU: Can three tango?
May 17, 2018 | Read more
With China pouring loans into the Western Balkans, the EU must step in to ensure this money benefits the region, writes Wawa Wang.
The loan that made sense until it didn’t
May 11, 2018 | Read more
During the annual meetings of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the bank is the subject of a complaint for policy violations via a EUR 200 million loan to Serbia’s state-owned energy utility: money earmarked to prepare the fossil fuels-based company for the realities of adhering to stricter EU legislation will instead enable it to extract and burn even more fossil fuels.
New wave of protests against the Nenskra dam
April 30, 2018 | Read more
On April 21, around 200 people went on a protest in Chuberi to once again oppose the construction of the Nenskra dam and to demand their indigenous status that grants a higher level of safeguards.
Tightening EBRD policies to counter Ukrainian agro giant
April 24, 2018 | Read more
Myronivsky Hliboproduct PJSC (MHP), the Ukrainian agribusiness conglomerate owned by one of the country’s richest men, has been getting away with disregard for national regulations, EU law and the EBRD’s performance standards. Bankwatch is calling for the EBRD to strengthen human rights due diligence, as it revises its safeguard policies, to prevent MHP and others from misusing public funds.