Established to promote transition to market-oriented economies in the countries of central and eastern Europe and Central Asia, the EBRD’s lending often fails to benefit the people in these countries and regularly prioritises carbon-intensive and environmentally damaging development.
Alternative news on the EBRD
Harsh economic realities and the discernible trend of democratic retrenchment in EBRD recipient countries suggest there are serious deficiencies in the bank’s overall ‘market-oriented’ approach.
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EBRD PROJECTS WE MONITOR
Make ICT Fair – improving electronics supply chain
Make ICT Fair is an initiative to improve labour rights in the electronics supply chain, established by eleven European non-governmental organisations and academic institutions: Swedwatch, University of Edinburgh, CATAPA, Le Monde Diplomatic, Towards Sustainability Association, CEE Bankwatch Network, People and Planet, Electronic Watch, SETEM Catalunya, Südwind, and ICLEI.
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Amulsar gold mine, Armenia
Since 2016 the controversial Amulsar gold mine project is being developed by Armenia’s largest foreign investor, an international mining company Lydian, near the touristic spa town of Jermuk.
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Boskov most hydropower plant, North Macedonia
Boskov Most was one of 18 hydropower greenfield projects planned by the North Macedonian government in the Mavrovo National Park. After five years of campaigning, we convinced the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development about the folly of this project and to cancel its EUR 65 million loan. Without its major source of funding, the project lost steam and was discontinued.
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LATEST UPDATES
Armenia breaks international agreement on biodiversity over gold mine funding, alleges complaint
Press release | 30 March, 2020Yerevan – The Armenian government has jeopardised three natural sites slated for protection for their unique biodiversity by moving ahead with plans for the USD 426 million Amulsar gold mine, finds a new complaint filed at the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, known as the ‘Bern Convention.’
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New analysis: Belgrade incinerator public-private partnership a textbook case of corporate capture
Press release | 4 December, 2019The Belgrade solid waste public-private partnership (PPP) has been plagued by legal irregularities and circumvented binding decision-making processes, finds a new analysis published today by CEE Bankwatch Network, Counter Balance and Zero Waste Europe.
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Dirty palms: European Development Banks need better due diligence and accountability to prevent human rights abuses
Blog entry | 29 November, 2019Long considered the standard-setters in the world of development finance, Multilateral Development Banks are now at an important junction. Europe’s development financiers must step up their accountability and commitment to protection of people and nature.
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LATEST PUBLICATION
At a time when public calls for tackling the causes of the climate crisis are growing, Romania’s gas industry has been expanding, courtesy of the Parliament and international financial institutions.This report, by Bankwatch Romania, finds that much of
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Our critique of the EBRD
After more than two decades of promoting market economies in post-Soviet countries, the EBRD has a poor track record of keeping up with its mission to protect human rights and the environment and promote sustainable development.
For the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall we collected examples of EBRD operations to illustrate just how the bank’s activities are often not worth celebrating – at least not for the affected people and environment.
Strong safeguard policies to guide bank lending are essential. At the EBRD meetings we are pushing for these types of reforms based on our collected experience with bank projects across the region.
Too often the EBRD safeguard policies fail to deliver protection for people, climate and the environment. What can be done?
Bankwatch produced this video for the 20th anniversary of EBRD operations, at a time when the bank announced intentions to extend its operational activities to north Africa.
Toolkit for civil society
Guidance on how to use the EBRD’s grievance mechanism for civil society, local groups and individuals that are adversely affected by a bank project.
