Updates on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Money lost, safety postponed: On the mismanagement in Ukraine’s energy sector

A recent audit showed that Ukraine lacks good management at least as much as finances to reform its energy sector. EU money is meanwhile siding with a tainted company.

Bankwatch letter to EBRD on the transparency of the mining strategy review process

Following up on a meeting between the EBRD President Sir Suma Chakrabarti and civil society groups monitoring the bank taking place July 23 in London, Bankwatch sent the new EBRD president a letter outlining civil society organisations’ concerns over the lack of transparency of the mining strategy review process as well as some recommendations for improving this situation.

Spot the difference: Alstom in Indonesia and Slovenia

The company hired to build a new unit at the Sostanj lignite power plant is involved in strikingly similar corruption cases across continents.

Don’t let facts get in the way of a good EBRD Roma headline

The EBRD’s claims it has helped turn Serbia into a “role model for social inclusion of Roma” ring hollow in light of the plethora of abuses of Romas’ rights in other cases in Serbia.

State guarantee vote for TES 6 overshadowed by OLAF corruption investigation

A state guarantee law supporting the construction of a 600 MW lignite plant at Sostanj in Slovenia (TES 6) was passed this week despite allegations of corruption against the management of the company remaining unsettled. Even more, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) recently opened an official investigation into TES 6. (1)

Bringing EU standards to third countries?

When the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development invest money in our countries, they are often expected to promote good practices in the projects they support.

Greens call for active efforts by European Commission to ensure an improved EBRD mining strategy

The letter by the Green members of the European Parliament calls for active efforts of the EU representative at the European Bank for Reconstructoin and Development to ensure that the bank’s new mining strategy endorses EU principles and standards for resource efficiency, biodiversity protection, poverty eradication, inclusive growth, transparency and public participation in the mining projects the EBRD supports.

MEPs call for responsible new EBRD mining strategy

Brussels – The new mining strategy of the EBRD risks contradicting the EU Resource Efficiency Roadmap and responsible mining principles, argue 22 MEPs in an open letter to European Commissioners which asks the EC to take a more active role in improving the EBRD mining strategy currently under review. (1)

Complaint to EBRD on Rivne – Kyiv High Voltage Line Project seeking project compliance review

Complaint to EBRD on Kolubara lignite mine project

The communities in Vreoci request the EBRD to suspend the loan for the Kolubara lignite mine because of the project company’s failure to meet performance requirements regarding: – community health, safety and security – information disclosure and stakeholder engagement – land acquisition and resettlement – environmental and social appraisal management – pollution prevention and abatement