Updates on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

EBRD financing new small hydro power projects in Ukraine: off on the wrong foot

In 2009 the EBRD established the EUR 50 million facility to support the development of small-scale projects in all renewable energy generation sectors, including hydro, wind, biomass and solar power. While the initiative is welcomed and timely, the first projects to be developed were not transparent practices in the project development, jeopardising the whole notion of renewable energy as sustainable and socially-acceptable.

Review of the EBRD’s Project Complaint Mechanism: Pointers for improvements

These comments emphasise the EBRD’s Project Complaint Mechanism’s strengths and weaknesses. Bankwatch hopes they can lead to further improvements in the EBRD’s accountability mechanism.

EBRD support for a new lignite power plant in Kosovo: Against EU objectives

The briefing outlines arguments against the 600 MW Kosovo e Re project that involved the construction of a new coal plant close to Prishtina. The project has been heavily promoted by the World Bank and by the US, and now also looks set for funding by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The bank’s new draft Country Strategy for Kosovo, which was approved by the EBRD’s Board of Directors on 1 May, clearly shows the bank’s interest in the project.

Policy briefing: Revision of the EBRD’s Environmental and Social Policy

Policy briefing: Review of the EBRD’s Energy Policy

Information disclosure and public participation in decision-making: necessary changes for EBRD policies

EBRD policy must take a stance: will it limit the ways in which stakeholders interact with each other and with the environment by adopting technical and procedural solutions? Or will it aim to promote shifts in social relations, in line with its mandate to promote sustainability and democratisation in its countries of operation? In this briefing, Bankwatch recommends a number of improvements in the EBRD’s Environmental and Social Policy and its Public Information Policy to better reflect the needs of the public.

Guest post: Development banks and the Arab Spring, new report takes stock

A new report takes a critical look at the engagement of European development banks in Egypt after the popular uprisings in the Middle East and North African region. This article appeared originally on the Counter Balance blog and has been shortened and slightly edited.

Input for online questionnaire on Projects of Energy Community Interest

Our input expresses our main concern relating to the need to develop an energy sector in southeast and eastern Europe that is in line with EU environmental and climate policies and legislation, as well as one which addresses the increasing problem of energy poverty through sparing and efficient energy use. We underline the need for the PECIs projects to be in line with current and forthcoming EU legislation and policies on climate, environment, renewable energy and energy efficiency.

NGO letter regarding Projects of Energy Community Interest

The letter accompanied Bankwatch’s and other NGOs’ input to the public consultation on the proposed Projects of Energy Community Interest in the electricity, gas and oil sectors. With the letter, civil society groups jointly address several important matters about the process, scope and selection criteria. See also Bankwatch’s inputs to the consultation.

Ukraine’s Nukes Are in Breach of UN Convention

Kiev – 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.