Updates on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

The EIB’s and EBRD’s role in changing the Polish energy market

The European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development can play a crucial role in a transition of the Polish energy market towards energy efficient energy production based on renewable energies.

Civil society letter to IFC requesting to include lessons learned from the Chad-Cameroon and BTC pipeline projects in the assessment process of the Nabucco pipeline project

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is considering financing the Nabucco gas pipeline project. Should the IFC decide to finance the project, it risks repeating the serious economic, environmental, social and human rights mistakes associated with the Baku Tbilisi Ceyhan (BTC) and Chad-Cameroon pipeline projects and involving the World Bank Group in another highly problematic, politicized and economically and environmentally unsustainable project.

Tree adoptions lead to more arrests in Khimki Forest

Despite the Russian government’s controversial decision to go ahead with the Moscow St. Petersburg motorway’s original routing through Khimki Forest, environmental activists have not given up their struggle to save the last remaining natural area in a densely populated region.

EBRD undermines Slovenian climate targets and governmental review with 200 million euros for dirty coal project

Ljubljana, Slovenia — Campaign groups today lambasted the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) signature of a 200 million euros loan for the Sostanj thermal power plant in Slovenia [1], calling it a blatant affront to Slovenia’s long-term climate targets. The signing also fails to await the outcome of a governmental review of the controversial project, expected in mid-February.

Letter to EBRD President Thomas Mirow requesting public withdrawal from the Moscow – St.Petersburg motorway project routed through Khimki forest

While the EBRD has repeatedly expressed its concerns about the project development process for this project, it has so far refrained from making any final decisions on whether to finance the road or not. We believe the time has now come for the bank to clearly and publicly withdraw from the project.

Labour conditions at Furshet supermarkets in Ukraine. How employee rights have been shaping up since the start of EBRD financial support

In 2007 the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) provided a USD 90 million loan to the second largest supermarket operator in Ukraine – the Furshet Group – for the regional expansion of its chain in Ukraine and Moldova. The aim of this research was to examine labour/gender conditions at supermarkets in respect of employee rights and discrimination at work, resulting in recommendations how Furshet and the EBRD can improve the employees’ situation.

Pointers for the EBRDs strategy on Municipal and Environmental Infrastructure (MEI)

With these pointers, Bankwatch analyses the EBRD’s current Municipal and Environmental Infrastructure (MEI) policy and critically examines its implementation in the sectors of water, waste, transport, district heating and other social services. We offer recommendations that – if included in the revised policy – would help taking into account the inescapable need for a low-carbon development and the lessons from the global economic crisis.

Pointers for the EBRDs forthcoming mining sector strategy

The document summarises the goals on which, according to Bankwatch, a future EBRD mining sector strategy needs to be based if the EBRD wants to support sustainable development. It includes specific recommendations to help ensure that EBRD investments in the mining sector bring real benefits for communities, avoid environmental and social harm, reduce CO2 emissions and do not increase countries’ dependence on commodities.

EBRD energy lending figures 2006-2009 – factsheet

Bankwatch’s examination of the EBRD’s own data leads to three main conclusions: EBRD lending for fossil fuel (coal, oil and gas) projects has risen rapidly, and more than tripled between 2008 and 2009. There has been concerted EBRD lending for energy efficiency projects – a welcome development. Lending for renewable energy is increasing but remains at a low level.

Letter to European Commissioners regarding recent developments and ongoing pressures on civil society in and around Khimki