Updates on the European Investment Bank

Eco-sense’s recommendations for transparent public hearings

These recommendations have been made during the preparation for the second round of public hearings on the Demir Kapija-Smokvica highway project. They are written in Macedonian and are available at Eco-sense’s website. Download Eco-sense’s recommendations for transparent public hearings

Letter to EIB’s Board of Governors at the occasion of the bank’s 51st AGM

The European Investment Bank and Central Asia: NGO comments to the EIBs regional strategy

Letter to EIB regarding Gazela resettlement process

In this letter CEKOR requests the EIB to send a delegation for a meeting with representatives of the Roma community from Gazela, interested Roma and non-Roma CSOs and representatives of the Roma national council and to thus establish consultative and sustainable process of the resettlement. On June 17, 2009 we have received a response from EIB, which can be downloaded as pdf here.

High voltage power lines, Ukraine – EBRD AGM Issue Paper

In April 2009 the National Energy Company of Ukraine Ukrenergo announced plans to construct two new high voltage transmission lines with hoped for financial support from the EBRD. A closer look at the background details reveals information that neither the project sponsor nor the EBRD provided. Based on them, it seems that in close cooperation with Ukrenergo the EBRD will rather improve Ukraine’s capacity to export electricity from its nuclear blocks under the smokescreen of serving the local needs.

Review of lessons from completed PPP projects financed by the EIB

This report reviews the European Investment Bank’s public-private partnership (PPP) projects to inform and help shape the bank’s lending policies and practices. The research has been commissioned by the European Investment Bank but is not available on the EIB’s website. The report describes the EIB PPP portfolio, presents the outcomes of interviews with EIB staff involved in PPP operations. The report draws interesting conclusions about the PPP project selection, risk sharing and transparency.

The progress of the Gazela slum resettlement project, Belgrade, Serbia – EBRD AGM Issue Paper

The Gazela Bridge in Belgrade, Serbia is in urgent need of renovation. Three hundred families, predominantly Roma, who live in informal settlements under the Bridge are to be resettled. So far the resettlement process lacks proper planning and open public consultation with affected communities and Roma experts. And also the EBRDs involvement as a technical assistant has not led to the establishment of the institutional, financial and legal solutions that are necessary to effectively promote Roma inclusion.

Western High Speed Diameter: Time to look for feasible alternatives – EBRD AGM Issue Paper

While St. Petersburgs road maintenance budget as a reaction to the economic crisis has been cut by 75%, federal and city officials are determined to realise the Western High Speed Diameter (WHSD), despite more than quadruplet production costs since 2006. But apart from the unjustified routing of the diameter through residential and important natural areas, it is also still unclear whether there are cheaper and more effective alternatives.

Corridor Vc motorway, Bosnia-Herzegovina – EBRD AGM Issue Paper

In 2008 the EBRD signed a loan for EUR 180 million for several sections of the planned 330 km long Corridor Vc motorway in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Communities living along the route are concerned about the expected negative effects on or even the destruction of valuable arable land. Furthermore another problem lies in the motorways routing through or nearby tentative UNESCO World Heritage sites, two planned national parks and other ecologically valuable terrain.

Porto Romano thermo power plant, Albania – EBRD AGM Issue Paper

The Porto Romano TPP is yet another project that aims to improve energy security in Albania, yet the construction of such a large TPP powered by imported coal can hardly be reckoned to constitute sustainable development. Nevertheless, and despite the fact that coal-fired TPP plants are widely recognised as the most climate-wrecking forms of electricity generation, the governing elite in Albania is determined to have one in its own backyard.