EBRD tightens standards in response to Balkan hydropower boom
Blog entry | 16 May, 2019As a result of public resistance to small-scale hydropower projects in the Balkans, from the beginning of 2020, the EBRD will ask commercial banks to refer all high-risk projects – including all hydropower plants – for additional checks. The EBRD also requires them to meet higher environmental standards than previously. The bank will ask that such projects are disclosed to the public on the financial intermediary’s website, finally increasing disclosure on these hitherto hidden projects.
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Nenskra hydropower project: May 2019 update
Publication | 14 May, 2019Given the complexity of the Nenskra project and its immense impact on indigenous Svan communities and the country’s fiscal stability, the EBRD should take responsibility and not provide financial support until the project is properly assessed. Read mor
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European Development Bank Significantly Strengthens its Grievance Mechanism – Reformed Mechanism Now More Independent
Press release | 9 May, 2019(Amsterdam, Prague, Washington, D.C.) — Civil society organizations welcomed the new grievance mechanism policy for the London-based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
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Five reasons why EBRD should pull out of the controversial Nenskra hydropower project
Blog entry | 8 May, 2019As the realisation of the project keeps dragging on, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the EBRD, and all international financial institutions involved, to justify their engagement.
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Policy on corporate loans based on PCM CRR on the EPS Restructuring project
Publication | 6 May, 2019The PCM has finalised the Compliance Review Report (CRR) of the EPS Restructuring project and has closed the case without further monitoring. We welcome the recommendation that clarification of the policy framework and strategic guidance are urgently r
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Corporate loans – the rotten apple in EBRD’s Environmental and Social Policy?
Blog entry | 18 April, 2019As the Board of Directors is expected to vote any day now on the renewed Policy which lays out the conditions for reaching the Bank’s sustainability mandate and commitment to EU standards, a compliance review on Serbia’s energy company’s corporate restructuring loan calls for clearer and stronger safeguards for corporate level loans.
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Letter to EBRD president Suma Chakrabarti
Publication | 3 April, 2019CEE Bankwatch Network, Arab Watch Coalition and the International Accountability Project call to the EBRD President, Sir Suma Chakrabarti, to ensure a people-centered Access to Information Policy. Communities, individuals, and civil society have the ri
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Comments on the EBRD draft Accountability Policy
Publication | 27 March, 2019The draft Accountability Policy of the EBRD proposes a substantial and welcomed restructuring of the mechanism and improves on many of the issues of independence and predictability that hindered the PCM. However, the draft Policy does not yet rectify a
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Comments on the EBRD draft Access to Information policy
Publication | 27 March, 2019Fulfilling the right of access to information is the beginning and foundation of true development that respects the rights of all people. Access to information goes hand-in-hand with meaningful consultation and stakeholder engagement to ensure that pro
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Comments on the EBRD draft Environmental and Social Policy
Publication | 27 March, 2019We welcome the proposed improvements in the EBRD draft Environmental and Social Policy, including the stronger language on human rights, gender and vulnerable groups, as well as the reintroduction of the referral list for financial intermediary high ri
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