Updates on the European Investment Bank

European Investment Bank: Promoting sustainable development, “where appropriate”

This report aims to inform the ongoing review of environmental and social practices within the EIB by examining the standards endorsed by the EIB in a variety of social policy areas, and identifying international best practices against which the EIBs new framework will invariably be judged. Specifically, it will focus on five different social policy areas in which EIB policy remains unclarified and underdeveloped; social assessment, human rights, communities participation and consent, labour rights, and gender equality.

Summary of Public Environmental Impact Assessment of Western High-Speed Diameter project

Albanian referendum aims to put a break on Italian oil and gas plans for renowned Vlora Bay

Vlora, Albania – The city council of Vlora in Albania this week approved a citizens’ initiative to hold a public referendum on the development in the picturesque Bay of Vlora of a 200,000 ton oil and gas terminal that is being promoted by the Italian La Petrolífera Italo Rumena company. If constructed, the terminal would become another component of a controversial industrial and energy park located less than six kilometres north of Vlora, a city of more than 150,000 inhabitants.

NGO letter to the Austrian Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology regarding the A5 motorway between Vienna and Brno

Resistance to the Balkan pipeline carve up is growing

Bankwatch staff members have just returned from an invigorating and productive meeting with environmental and human rights groups from 14 countries aimed at developing responses to the rash of oil pipeline projects being proposed in South East Europe to bring Russian and Caspian oil to Europe and the US.

European Investment Bank energy investments 2002-2006

A database of the EIB’s investments in the energy sector from 2002-2006, compiled from the EIB’s annual reports, shows that most of its investments in this sector went to gas as well as electricity distribution. (For an analysis covering the years until 2008, please see our study Change the lending, not the climate.)

Table of European Investment Bank energy investments 2002-2006

Second submission to the European Investment Banks public consultation on its anti-corruption policy

This submission complements the first one presented by the above organisations during the first round of public consultation on the European Investment Banks new policy on anti-fraud and anti-corruption matters. Although the EIB recognises the complexity of anti-corruption issues and the need to bring in external consultants or relevant European institutions, it is unclear how this will be reflected in the policy which the EIB aims to finalize before the end of the year.

Follow-up letter to the EIB regarding NGO concerns over the Zagreb municipal solid waste incinerator project

On October 4, 2007 EIB responded to this letter. Download the response as pdf here.

Letter to EBRD President Lemierre regarding violations of EBRD standards and legal and administrative proceedings in the Vlora Thermal Power Plant project

On October 31, 2007 president Lemierre responded to this letter. Download the response as pdf here.