Updates on the European Investment Bank

NGO letter of concern regarding priority projects approved by the Ministerial Council of the South East Europe Energy Community Treaty

On March 12, 2008 the SEE Energy Community responded to this letter. Download the response here (as pdf). On June 3, 2008 SEEDW issued a response to the above. Download it as pdf here.

EU funds for fifty harmful projects: NGOs announce ‘RegioScars’ – the three most ill-conceived projects in CEE countries

A new map with details of 50 environmentally damaging and economically dubious infrastructure projects in Central and Eastern Europe was launched by CEE Bankwatch Network and Friends of the Earth Europe in Brussels today [1]. Based on the most extensive investigation to date, the map entitled ‘Cohesion or Collision?’ shows controversial projects with a total cost of EUR 22 billion. The projects are either already financed, or planned to be financed, by EU structural and cohesion funds and/or the European Investment Bank (EIB) [2].

European civil society concerns about inadequate policies and practices of the European Investment Bank: memo for European parliamentarians in the run-up to discussion of the EIB Annual Report 2006

NGO comments on the EIB transport lending policy

Letter to the EIB regarding consultations on the EIB transport lending policy

On February 27, 2008 EIB responded to our letter. Download the response here (pdf).

Letter to the EBRD, EIB and EC regarding the Czech Operational Programme Transport for 2007-2013

Letter from Eco-sense to the European Commission regarding the Demir Kapija – Smokvica highway

Also read the following corespondence related to this letter (as pdf): Response from the European Commission regarding the letter from Eco-sense about the Demir Kapija- Smokvica highway dated February 5, 2008 Follow-up letter to the European Commission regarding the Demir Kapija – Smokvica highway dated February 12, 2008

Vlora demonstrators tell World Bank delegation to pull out of disputed power plant

Close to 3000 residents of Vlora, an Albanian city on the Adriatic coast, greeted the visit of representatives of the World Banks Inspection Panel with a clear plea – end World Bank credits for the EUR 110m thermal power plant that is part of a huge energy park development threatening the sensitive Vlora bay.

Vlora citizens’ road blockade stops construction work on energy projects for eighth day

The Civic Alliance for Protection of the Vlora Bay together with the Vlora Student Movement is now in the eighth day of protesting against construction of the Vlora thermo-power plant and a hydrocarbons terminal on a beach on the outskirts of the Albanian city located on the Adriatic coast. On December 25 a group of 30 people blocked the access road to the construction sites thus preventing further progress on both sites. Four days later, 10 protesters were arrested, including Eneid Hamzaj, the leader of the Vlora Student Movement.

Bankwatch Mail 34

In this issue: The more things change… * … the more they stay the same * Backing a loser: PPP never never land comes to CEE * Albania at the crossroads – how the IFIs could be doing so much more * Outbreak of winter silly season commentary on the EBRD * Recent Bankwatch publications