ARCHIVED: Kresna gorge / Struma motorway, Bulgaria
February 25, 2019
The Struma motorway is tragically emblematic of an EU-funded project that has wrought havoc on European biodiversity and the wishes of local communities. In spite of two decades of protest by civil society and citizens, part of the Struma motorway section is planned directly through the Kresna gorge, a Natura 2000 site and Bulgaria’s richest biodiversity hotspot.
Environmental organisations ‘very disappointed’ with new ERDF Regulation
February 19, 2019
The European Parliament’s REGI committee voted on the regulation for the regional development fund on Thursday (14 February). Environmental activists criticized the fact that key concessions to climate protection were withdrawn and the proposal reportedly contradicted a vote from the day before.
New investigation in Kresna gorge reveals another major breach of law
February 15, 2019
An independent investigation by a Bulgarian TV channel bTV discovered progressing construction works in the Kresna gorge area even though the official procurement procedure is still ongoing.
Macedonian hydropower complaint highlights EBRD’s enduring opacity
February 11, 2019
After almost a year of struggling to get basic environmental information from the EBRD about the Krapska hydropower project, Bankwatch has submitted an official complaint [1] to the bank’s Secretary General. As we run the same administrative circles over and over again, another precious river valley has been irreversibly damaged.
Changing lives and doing no harm
February 8, 2019
“We invest in changing lives” is the slogan of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, whose investments in 2018 reached EUR 9.5 billion through 395 projects. Whether the change is for better depends on the bank’s environmental and human rights safeguards.
The EU’s bank downplayed climate risk in granting record loans to Europe’s largest fossil fuel project
February 7, 2019
Brussels – In a complaint lodged today with the European Investment Bank (EIB), civil society groups protest that the bank systematically underestimated the climate footprint of a fossil fuel mega project, the Southern Gas Corridor, which helped justify providing it with major financial support using EU public money.
Failure of the European Investment Bank to ensure proper climate impact assessment for TAP/TANAP
February 4, 2019
In a complaint lodged today with the European Investment Bank (EIB), civil society groups protest that the bank systematically underestimated the climate footprint of a fossil fuel mega project, the Southern Gas Corridor, which helped justify providing
Calling the EIB for a state-of-the-art policy on financial intermediaries
January 25, 2019
The signatories request the EIB Directors to require from the Bank’s Management to create a state-of-the-art Standard for Financial Intermediaries that will enhance the environmental, social and transparency performance of these operations while mainta
Inicijativa: Poništeno rešenje o sadržaju studije za spalionicu otpada u Vinči
January 21, 2019
Vlada Srbije je, nakon žalbe Inicijative Ne davimo Beograd, donela odluku o poništavanju rešenja Ministarstva životne sredine kojim se određuje obim i sadržaj studije o proceni uticaja na životnu sredinu projekta izgradnje spalionice u Vinči. Source: I
The weight of gold
January 16, 2019
The new gold mine in Krumovgrad boasts environmental performance and social responsibility, yet there are black spots along the path of the Bulgarian gold around the globe.