Rural communities in Ukraine bearing the brunt of unchecked agribusiness expansion, say two new reports
Press release | 14 September, 2015Residents in Ukraine’s southwest are facing environmental decline, intimidation and deteriorating quality of life as a result of the rapid emergence of Europe’s largest poultry farm, finds a report released today by CEE Bankwatch Network. Owned by Mironivski Hliboproduct (MHP), Ukraine’s biggest poultry producer, the Vinnytsia project has been enjoying hefty support from Europe’s public financial institutes and the World Bank, and plans to double the facility’s size are only likely to exacerbate its social and environmental impacts, shows another report released today by the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO).
Read moreBlack earth – Agribusiness in Ukraine and the marginalisation of rural communities
Publication | 14 September, 2015Given Ukraine’s abundant land resources and food production potential, modernisation of agriculture is necessary and industrialisation is inevitable. Yet, an investigation into the Vinnytsia poultry complex shows the negative side effects of large-scale industrialisation of meat production and sounds the alarm about the risks that agroholdings pose to communities.
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Slovakia and the Energy Union: Financing for fossil fuels
Blog entry | 10 September, 2015Similar to what we have seen in other countries, when it comes to concrete projects in Slovakia the Energy Union proposals are so far to a much larger extent aiming at security of (gas) supply than they are at decarbonisation.
Read moreLetter: Substantial amendments needed for EIB climate strategy
Publication | 8 September, 2015The European Investment Bank’s draft Climate Strategy, although it presents a few interesting technical opportunities, does not constitute a fully-fledged strategy: it lacks strong and measurable objectives, relevant action plans and clear implementation timelines to support those objectives. Bankwatch, urgewald, Counter Balance and WWF Europe therefore ask the EIB to make substantial amendments to the draft in the following three areas: energy efficiency, the cimate action target and the emissions performance standard.
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To mobilise investments for energy efficiency, Commission needs to put money where its mouth is
Blog entry | 26 August, 2015Clear guidance is needed more than public assurances to make the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) be indeed a vehicle for energy efficiency. Counter to public statements, the current set-up does not promise to be effective.
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Energy Union benefits are full of paradoxes in the land of Kafka
Blog entry | 30 July, 2015More clarity is needed regarding the Energy Union’s priorities for the Czech Republic.
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Slovakian dam project is a warning sign for Juncker’s investment drive
Blog entry | 22 July, 2015The European Parliament will soon be voting on a Scoreboard that will help assess candidate projects to the EUR 21 billion European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI). Stringent economic, social and environmental criteria are a paramount need for ensuring investments that contribute to a more sustainable Europe.
Read moreCSOs key points for the forthcoming EIB climate policy
Publication | 16 July, 2015In this letter to EIB, civil society organisations point out that the EIB’s forthcoming climate policy cannot only be limited to repackaging previous climate commitments or solely focusing on technical incremental changes. In the framework of the new EU 2030 climate and energy targets and the forthcoming international climate conference in Paris, ambitious new policy commitments are indispensable to make the EIB credible.
Read moreRomanian environmental inspectorate orders closure of two coal plants operating outside EU pollution laws
Press release | 30 June, 2015Last week the Environmental Inspectorate in Hunedoara, Romania demanded the closure of two thermal power plants at Mintia and Paroşeni, because neither of the units complies with air quality requirements of the EU’s Large Combustion Plants Directive (LCPD). Hunedoara Energy Complex, which manages the Mintia and Paroşeni plants, has challenged the decision in court.
Read moreEuropean Parliament approves Juncker Investment Plan, lacks guidance and oversight
Press release | 25 June, 2015Today the European Parliament approved the regulation establishing the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) at the heart of President Juncker’s EUR 315 billion investment plan. But critics say that the regulation lacks clear provisions for oversight of the fund and guidance for investments in green, sustainable and resource-efficient projects that are part of the fund’s mandate.
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