Big EU energy projects cannot be chosen behind closed doors, say NGOs
Press release | 29 September, 2014Brussels — As a new process of identifying big EU energy Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) kicks off in Brussels today, environmental NGOs warn that the EU must only prioritise energy projects which are not destructive of the environment and climate, and that the choice of these projects must be done through a transparent process.
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On Evgeny Vitishko, multilateral development banks and the criminalisation of public criticism
Blog entry | 26 September, 2014The recent rejection to release Evgeny Vitishko’s, an imprisoned environmental activist in Russia, illustrates the backlash against fundamental rights and freedoms in some countries. Multilateral development banks need to take notice of this trend and be more wary of the risk that their lending may strengthen authoritarian regimes.
Read moreComplaint to the EIB regarding the S-7 expressway in Poland
Publication | 15 September, 2014The complaint details the problems with the S-7 expressway project in Poland. It was prepared by the Polish association “Pracownia na Rzecz Wszystkich Istot – Workshop for All Beings”.
Read moreEurope’s finance ministers urged to stop EU Bank’s ‘extraordinary’ slide towards secrecy
Press release | 11 September, 2014Campaigners across Europe are urging the European Commission and their Ministers of Finance to halt a dangerous slide towards secrecy of the giant European Investment Bank (EIB), of which the EU member states are owners.
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Corporate interest on way to win over the EU bank’s transparency policy
Blog entry | 10 September, 2014In the draft version of its new transparency policy the European Investment Bank is making access to information on its tens of billion euros lending harder than ever.
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Can the EIB lead the European economy out of crisis by championing EU climate policy?
Publication | 8 August, 2014The European Investment Bank, the biggest multilateral public bank in the world by lending volume and the self-styled ‘EU bank’, has recently announced that it will be reviewing its approach to climate change in the coming months. According to comments made by EIB vice-president Philippe de Fontaine Vive to civil society representatives, “The EIB wants to position itself between this October’s anticipated EU 2030 climate agreement and the Paris COP 21 meeting in December 2015”.
Read moreOpportunities and expectations towards the EIB climate policy review
Publication | 24 July, 2014After effectively phasing out lending to lignite and coal-fired power plants in its energy policy in 2013, the EIB is now reviewing its climate policy. This joint NGO letter expresses the expectations towards the EIB to align its lending further with climate science and the EU Roadmap 2050 by proposing a genuine strategy for the bank to phase out funding for projects that are detrimental to the climate and to mainstream climate considerations into each and every sector of operations the Bank is engaged in.
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City of Zagreb still playing with fire
Blog entry | 18 July, 2014Seasoned Bankwatch-watchers may recall our successful four-year campaign to stop the EBRD from financing a waste incinerator just outside Zagreb. Between 2005 and 2008, we supported Zelena akcija/Friends of the Earth Croatia and local group UZOR to prevent the City of Zagreb from building a huge 385 000 tonnes per year waste incinerator in Resnik on the outskirts of Croatia’s capital.
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A Private Affair: Report shows how development finance institutions benefit the rich in Western countries
Blog entry | 11 July, 2014A new report shows how private western-based companies are benefiting from multilateral development banks’ support while governments and citizens in recipient countries are delegated to the sidelines.
Read moreCivil society recommendations for the European Investment Bank’s transparency policy
Publication | 1 July, 2014As the EIB prepares the review of its 2010 transparency policy, the signatories of this letter convey key positions and concerns regarding the policy and how we believe it needs to be amended.
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