Executive summary: The EU and energy in the Arab countries
Publication | 17 November, 2015This briefing (an executive summary of an upcoming report) looks at energy investments by the EU in the Southern Mediterranean region and the impacts on the social, economic and environmental rights of citizens and communities by highlighting the compliance of these activities with the values of democracy, human rights and economic development for Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. It also assesses the type of the investments that would be beneficial both for host countries as well as for the EU.
Read moreAnalysis of EU investments in Ukraine’s energy sector, 2007-2014
Publication | 17 November, 2015Between 2007-2014, Ukraine received from EU public institutions over EUR 2.5 billion for 56 projects in the country’s energy sector. This is the highest amount of support for the energy sector among all countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy, both by volume and number of investments. Only 15 per cent of that support went to combating inefficient energy use or to developing local sustainable energy sources. The focus of EU financial support has remained on ‘traditional’ sources of energy.
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Ukrainian court backs state attempt to stifle public debate on ageing nuclear fleet
Press release | 29 October, 2015Kiev – Today a Kiev court ruled in favour of a defamation lawsuit brought by the Ukrainian state against a civil society organisation, thus backing the government’s attempts to suppress public debate on the country’s ageing nuclear fleet.
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EBRD policy breaches at Serbia coal mine confirmed by bank’s own complaint mechanism
Press release | 29 October, 2015Prague, Belgrade – A day after the Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) approved a new EUR 200 million loan for Serbia’s electric utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS), an internal review at the Bank finds that it breached its own environmental and social policy when approving the previous EUR 80 million loan to the same company.
Read moreComments to the EBRD’s draft gender strategy
Publication | 22 October, 2015In spite of positive elements the EBRD’s Draft Strategy for the Promotion of Gender Equality is unclear or appears to lack consistency in some parts. More importantly, the EBRD’s failure to take a rights-based approach to gender equality has resulted in a limited vision of gender equality of economic opportunity “as a key tool” for promoting efficient market transition. By making the business case for gender equality this approach may ensure stronger ownership of the Strategy by the bank, but it is a missed opportunity for aligning the Strategy with the bank’s unique Sustainable Development mandate. Without a persuasive presentation of the EBRD’s strategic approach to safeguarding gender rights, the draft of the Strategy lacks justification for choosing to promote women while refusing to protect them.
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[Campaign update] MEP Rebecca Harms criticises Ukrainian nuclear operator for its lawsuit against activists
Blog entry | 21 October, 2015Nuclear safety activists in Ukraine who face defamation charges by the state nuclear operator Energoatom received support from Rebecca Harms, a member of the European Parliament, recently.
Read moreLetter to government of Namibia: request for access to information about the Tsumeb smelter
Publication | 9 October, 2015The Tsumeb smelter in Namibia belongs to Dundee Precious Metals, a Canadian company that operates and develops gold, copper and silver mines in Bulgaria, Armenia and Serbia. Investigating complaints about local pollution, Bankwatch member group Za Zemiata (BG) repeatedly requested access to environmental information from the Namibian government – to no avail. Read more about the Tsumeb smelter on our blog >>
Read moreComments on Environmental Impact Assessment for Nenskra hydropower plant in Georgia
Publication | 30 September, 2015These comments on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the Nenskra hydropower plant in Georgia concludes that the quality of the submitted report is extremely poor. The report as well as the public hearings organised during its preparation do not comply with Georgian legislation or with the requirements of International Financial Institutions.
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When environmental improvement becomes resettlement – lessons from Serbia’s Kolubara mine
Blog entry | 25 September, 2015European financial institutions and Serbian authorities have failed to address the human impacts of resettlement in Serbia’s lignite mining fields, a new study shows.
Read moreA clear and present danger – How financial institutions and authorities have failed to address the human impacts of resettlement in Serbia’s lignite mining fields
Publication | 25 September, 2015This study shows how the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has failed to enforce several of its basic principles on involuntary resettlement in the Kolubara Mining Basin, one of the largest sources of lignite in Europe, where mining has continued for over fifty years.
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