Ukraine’s Nukes Are in Breach of UN Convention
Press release | 22 April, 2013Kiev – Ukraine’s expansion of the lifetime of its old nuclear reactors is in breach of the UN Espoo Convention, ruled the body monitoring the implementation of this international agreement, because Kiev went ahead with the prolongation of the use of its old reactors without assessing the impact this may have on neighbouring countries.
Read moreGuest post: New studies fail to prove that the Ombla hydroplant is fit for EBRD financing
Blog entry | 22 April, 2013The EBRD’s involvement in the Ombla hydropower plant project has from the start been a story of insufficient scrutiny and cutting procedural corners, followed by an attempt to patch things up by commissioning a belated nature impact assessment. The assessment highlights the Ombla area’s natural importance and captures some of the harm that would be done by the dam, but fails to draw the right conclusions, says Jagoda Munic, President of Friends of the Earth International and Biodiversity Programme Co-ordinator at Zelena akcija/Friends of the Earth Croatia.
Read moreEBRD with disastrous start in Kosovo, European Parliament not amused
Blog entry | 19 April, 2013The European Parliament yesterday chastised the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for its explicit interest in financing a new lignite-fired power plant in Kosovo. NGOs hope the bank will pay more attention to the Parliament than it did to civil society and energy experts so far.
Read moreEuropean Parliament wants green energy, not coal, as part of Kosovo integration
Press release | 19 April, 2013The European Parliament yesterday blasted the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for considering financing of the planned USD 2 billion Kosova e Re lignite power plant near Pristina.
Read more[Campaign update] Arctic Sunrise joins campaign against coal power plant in Croatia
Blog entry | 17 April, 2013Yesterday Greenpeace’s legendary ship Arctic Sunrise joined in the campaign against Plomin C, a coal-fired power plant in Croatia.
Read more[Campaign update] New bills for green energy in Serbia
Blog entry | 16 April, 2013By investing in Serbian lignite, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development cements the rigid structure of the country’s electricity market. Investing in energy efficiency instead could help reduce energy bills and free up further renewables funding.
Read moreExposing the nuke-speak: responses to the EBRD’s justification for financing nuclear lifetime extensions
Blog entry | 29 March, 2013In an unprecedented effort to defend its support for Ukraine’s nuclear programme the EBRD publicly replies to some of our objections. Several colleagues sent us their (sometimes outraged) rebuttals, which we include here in our rejoinder to the bank’s arguments.
Read moreGuest post: Never again Sostanj
Blog entry | 20 March, 2013Disappointed by loan disbursements to one of the dirtiest coal projects in Europe, almost 100 organisations have called on two public lenders to not repeat the same mistakes, ever.
Read moreNever again Sostanj, NGOs warn European public banks after Slovenia debacle
Press release | 20 March, 2013After the EIB and the EBRD disbursed a promised 650 million euros for Slovenian lignite plant TES 6 on March 8, Focus Slovenia, CEE Bankwatch Network, and 96 other NGOs are today sending a letter to the two banks calling on them to never commit to such a misguided loan again.
Read more[Campaign update] Woes in Kosovo’s energy sector trigger demand for Minister’s removal
Blog entry | 18 March, 2013Amid increasing public outcry over electricity prices and the privatisation of the KEDS distribution company, KOSID, an industrious NGO coalition from Kosovo has called for the dismissal of Besim Beqaj, the country’s Minster for Economic Development.
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