Leaders tell EU neighbours to stress-test nuclear plants

19 April 2011  | EuObserver

EU leaders have called on neighbouring states including Russia and Ukraine to carry out ‘stress tests’ on their nuclear plants.

Banking is not a tool to support democracy

28 March 2011  | New Europe

Over the next three years, the European Commission is planning to channel seven billion euro for the Southern Mediterranean through the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). But the track record of these two banks raises serious questions over their ability to support democratisation in the region.

Advocacy groups oppose larger North Africa role for EBRD, EIB

23 March 2011  | Reuters

A loose coalition of advocacy groups is urging shareholders of two European Union-backed banks to halt plans to expand lending in North Africa as too little attention has been paid to the democratic credentials of recipient countries.

EU ‘ignoring safety risks’ in financing of nuclear expansion in Ukraine

17 March 2011  | The Ecologist

As Japan’s Fukushima disaster unfolds, the EU is financing a controversial nuclear expansion programme in Ukraine to increase exports to energy-hungry consumers in western Europe.

The EU forgets Chernobyl as it encourages Ukraine to become major nuclear-generated electricity exporter

15 March 2011  | openDemocracy

Ukraine has an energy strategy that sees significant new nuclear build. The European Investment Bank’s “Trans-European Networks” initiative encourages this new build by increasing the capacity for power exports to the West

With banks like these…

4 March 2011  | European Voice

Is the EIB undermining the EU’s long-term climate targets? The example of Slovenia suggests it is. Last month, the first European Council devoted specifically to energy confirmed the need for an 80%-95% reduction in output of greenhouse gases by 2050 (