The good, the bad and the uncertain: the new energy policies of Europe’s public banks
Publication | 20 March, 2014The European NGO coalition Counter Balance has recently published a short overview of the new energy policies now in place at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). Both banks’ new policies were finalised towards the end of 2013 following extensive consultation with stakeholders from the energy sector, civil society and academia.
Read moreBankwatch Mail 58
Publication | 20 March, 2014Issue 58 of Bankwatch Mail, published as stakeholders meet in the European Parliament to discuss the future of the ‘Energy Community’. Comprising the countries of the western Balkans, Moldova and Ukraine, the Energy Community aims primarily to extend EU internal energy policy to south east Europe and the Black Sea region. Its modus operandi and achievements are now being evaluated at high level, which – as this issue shows – is undoubtedly necessary given the stunning number of highly questionable coal and lignite fired power plants that are proceeding in various Energy Community members.
Read moreAssessment of opportunities for pre-accession assistance IPA 2 in Macedonia
Publication | 15 March, 201492 organisations prepared and submitted this joint statement on the opportunities for financing in Macedonia from the EU pre-accession instrument. The assessment was done for all sectors included in the Country Strategy Paper for Macedonia.
Read moreThe EIB’s double standard for human rights in Ukraine and Egypt
Blog entry | 24 February, 2014While drawing concrete consequences from the violence that happened in Ukraine, the European Investment Bank seems to be unmindful of the ongoing human rights abuses and killings in Egypt.
Read moreEIB commits to review tax haven policy
Blog entry | 14 February, 2014During the annual meeting between civil society and the EIB’s Board of Directors, the European Investment Bank committed to review its outdated tax haven policy this year. The commitment which followed a letter from several NGOs expressing such demand, is the most concrete outcome of the meeting which took place on 3rd February in the bank’s headquarters in Luxemburg.
Read moreEIB lending for the Czech Operational Programme Transport 2007-2013
Publication | 12 February, 2014The Operational Programme Transport 2007-2013 is expected to provide EUR 5.8 billion for transport projects in the Czech Republic. Of this amount, up to EUR 1.3 billion should come from the EIB via the Structural and Cohesion Funds Transport Framework Facility for 2007-2013, with some 55 percent earmarked for investments in new motorway corridors and the rest for upgrades to existing rail corridors. An analysis of the OP project showed many cases of misuse of the public funding.
Read moreIndicators to measure the results of EIB operations must differ inside and outside EU
Publication | 10 February, 2014This briefing presents concern regarding the proposal to formalise one set of result measurement indicators for operations inside and outside of Europe. The EIB has worked now since 2012 on a framework for assessing and measuring development results for operations outside the EU called the Results Measurement Framework (REM). After its 2012 capital increase, the EIB began a revision of the Value-Added (VA) assessment of the bank’s operations within the EU and Pre-Accession countries. As a result, the Three Pillar Outcomes Assessment (3PA) was implemented in 2013.
Read moreEIB energy and climate action lending 2012 by the numbers
Publication | 3 February, 2014The latest available lending figures from the European Investment Bank show a striking imbalance between what was invested in old and new EU Member States.
Read moreCharts: The two worlds of EIB climate action
Blog entry | 3 February, 2014Our analysis of the latest available lending figures from the European Investment Bank show a striking imbalance between what was invested towards climate adaptation and mitigation in old and new EU Member States.
Read moreGuest post: A Balkan lesson for coal investors
Blog entry | 28 January, 2014When Dr. Kim, President of the World Bank, and leaders of other international financial institutions ponder funding new coal power projects this year – like the one in Kosovo – there’s one word that should be seared into their memories: Sostanj.
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