Statement on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and threat of war
Press release | 29 April, 2014CEE Bankwatch Network strongly condemns the Russian government’s military invasion and annexation of Crimea and Sebastopol. We hope that in the end the voices of those who have been demonstrating for peace in Moscow and elsewhere, in both Russia and Ukraine, will prevail. The European Union has already responded to the Crimean declaration of independence by announcing travel bans and bank account freezes for 48 individuals from Russia and Ukraine linked to the Crimean breakaway.
Read moreUnlocking accountability: Complaint mechanisms at the international financial institutions
Publication | 15 April, 2014This leaflet provides guidance for people affected by the projects and programmes of international financial institutions. It explains in brief how the safeguard policies of the World Bank group, the EBRD and the EIB function and how to address the banks’ complaint mechanisms. The leaflet is also available in: Russian (pdf)
Read moreBankwatch Mail 58
Publication | 10 April, 2014Содержание Чьи интересы отстаивает Энергетическое сообщество? Договор нуждается в срочном улучшении Договор об Энергетическом сообществе, подписанный при поддержке ЕС в 2005 году и сторонами которого являются страны западной части Балканского полуостро
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Proposed EU loan would make Tunisia’s debt problems worse, say CSOs
Press release | 28 March, 2014– MEPs to vote on new loan in April. – Tunisia is already paying more to its Western creditors than it receives in loans and grants, and almost all of the new loan would be used for debt repayments. Civil society groups from Tunisia and Europe are urging the European Parliament to concentrate on debt relief instead of voting through a EUR 300 million loan to Tunisia, arguing that this will only add to the country’s huge existing debt burden.
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Whose Energy Community? Treaty improvements urgently needed
Publication | 20 March, 2014The EU-backed Energy Community Treaty, signed in 2005 and comprising the western Balkan countries, Ukraine and Moldova, has been widely hailed as encouraging regional co-operation. It also sets a legislative framework for the signatories (also known as the contracting parties) that should contribute, along with the EU accession process, to addressing the environmental and social impacts of the energy sector. Indeed, examples of the Energy Community’s added value are its adoption of renewable energy targets in October 2012, as well as a requirement for power plants to comply with EU emissions limits.
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Slovenia’s shoddy Šoštanj 6 busts the myth of cheap lignite power
Publication | 20 March, 2014Bankwatch has been monitoring and campaigning against the ill-conceived EBRD- and EIB-financed Unit 6 at Šoštanj in Slovenia for several years now. Yet the project never ceases to amaze with its myriad flaws and scandals – and the first few months of 2014 have been no exception.
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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.
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The 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.
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