Updates on the European Investment Bank

Letter to European Commissioners regarding recent developments and ongoing pressures on civil society in and around Khimki

Have you voted in the 2010 worst EU lobbying awards yet?

ArcelorMittal, one of the candidates for the worst EU lobby award, is the world’s largest private steel company, producing 10 per cent of the world’s steel. It is also one of Europe’s largest emitters of CO2. Yet the company successfully lobbied the European Commission on behalf of Europe’s biggest polluters to continue getting free greenhouse gas emissions permits until at least 2020.

Baseball bat attack hospitalises Khimki Forest activist, latest violence connected with controversial Moscow-St Petersburg motorway plans

Environmental and human rights activist Konstantin Fetisov of Khimki near Moscow was today assaulted near his house by unknown assailants wielding a baseball bat and is now in a serious condition in hospital.

Rotten perceptions, grim reality Turkmenistan off the agenda in European Parliament, Nabucco still nowhere near fit for purpose

Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, launched today, confirms Turkmenistan’s position as one of the world’s least democratic regimes. Promoters of the Nabucco gas pipeline project have opted to adopt a surprisingly tolerant approach to Turkmenistan’s endemic failings.

Bankwatch Mail 46

In this issue: A sustainable EU budget – it’s time to cut the crap * Khimki forest reprieve brings no cessation of underhand tactics * EU funds flows for smart flood prevention can save billions and lives * Rip it up and almost start again – New EU funds priorities for Hungary * EU funds for Latvia’s environment up in smoke * Conference – The private sector turn: Private equity, financial intermediaries and what they mean for development (November 22, London) * EBRD financial sector strategy revision reveals few lessons learned from crisis * Energy and transport failings in the east – a challe

Bankwatch input to EC consultation on an EU initiative on concessions

The European Commission (EC) has recently invited inputs to its consultation on an initiative on concessions that aims to improve the rules for concession contracts in the EU. PPP advocates insist on their cost-effectiveness, timely completion rates and the sharing of financial risk – yet so far the evidence for these claims is decidedly mixed. In our comments we call for a thorough and independent assessment of the performance of PPPs so far and their financial and social impact.

Bankwatch input to the consultation on the future TEN-T Network Policy

Bankwatch’s comments to the consultation on the future of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), the vast Europe-wide network of roads, rail, air and water transport raise concerns among others about the lack of an overall vision in the European Commission’s consultation documents so far and about the European Investment Bank’s role in the implementation in the revised policy.

Khimki Forest activist arrested for holding banner during picket action

Russian activist Yaroslav Nikitenko was arrested by police on Saturday during a legally permitted picket action in the town of Khimki near Moscow. The action was part of the campaign to change the route of the planned Moscow-St Petersburg motorway so that it avoids the Khimki Forest.

Nabucco and Turkmenistan – Our energy security, Turkmens’ misery

This paper examines the less obvious aspects of the Nabucco gas pipeline project – its possible impact on Turkmenistan, a country notorious for its grave human rights situation and the dictatorial tendencies of its political leaders. It also discusses how, with a lack of public oversight over gas revenues in Turkmenistan, the construction of Nabucco may lead to the strengthening of one of the most brutal regimes currently in existence.

Open letter to Russian President Medvedev regarding the planned public consultation process on the Moscow – St. Petersburg motorway project