Updates on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Campaign against Vinci’s participation in Moscow St. Petersburg motorway project launched

While much of the debate around the Moscow St. Petersburg motorway project has centred around the behaviour of the Russian authorities, the Movement to Defend Khimki Forest is now targeting French construction giant Vinci and asking the company not to sign an additional agreement with the Russian authorities, expected in mid-April.

Don’t turn Ukraine into a nuclear energy source for the European Union!

Bankwatch member group National Ecological Centre of Ukraine is asking the European Investment Bank (EIB) on inaugurating its Kiev office March 25 not to support nuclear development in Ukraine .

Vinci’s failure to respect Global Compact commitments on human rights and the environment in Khimki

The letter to representatives of the UN Global Compact gives details on the failure to respect commitments under the Global Compact initiative by the construction company Vinci in connection with the Moscow St. Petersburg motorway project (near Khimki).

Civil society concerns about EBRD expansion into North Africa

As a result of the recent revolts in the Southern Mediterranean, the European Commission proposed March 8 that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development be given a leading role in promoting democratisation and development in the region. But NGOs argue that the EBRD’s mandate should not be expanded for the foreseeable future.

Comments to the EC’s plans to increase EIB operations and commence ERBD operations in North Africa

The European Commission’s announced plans to give the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction leading roles in promoting democratisation and development in the Southern Mediterranean region. Counter Balance and Bankwatch are concerned that both institutions first need to demonstrate their ability to bring environmentally sustainable and socially positive development impacts. We also call for an immediate investigation into the EIB financing to the Mediterranean so far, to examine whether corrupted elites have benefited from the bank’s loans.

NGOs call for investigation into EIB financing for the Mediterranean region

Counter Balance and CEE Bankwatch Network are calling for an investigation into the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) financing in the Southern Mediterranean region in the past, before giving the bank a leading role in distributing European financial support for the region.

Bankwatch comments on EBRD country level transition indicators

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s transition indicators for some time already were rather disconnected from the situation in the EBRD’s countries of operation. Our comments are premised on the point that the ultimate goal of transition is not only a market economy, but an environmentally sustainable and socially just one.

EU public funds for “securing” dirty coal and nuclear energy Ukraine transmission lines background paper

Over the past few years, a series of strategies, agreements and loans have brought the EU and Ukraine into closer cooperation on perpetuating nuclear and carbon-intensive energy infrastructure and generation, with international financial institutions (IFIs) brokering the deals.

Comments to draft EBRD country strategy for Ukraine

Tirana Botanical Garden threatened by ring road

Last week, more than 33 Albanian civil society organizations — including Bankwatch’s Albanian partner organisation EDEN — sent an open letter (pdf) to Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, protesting against the potential destruction of the Botanical Garden in Tirana.