Azerbaijan: Crackdown on critics undermines sustainable development – Human Rights Watch letter to the European Investment Bank
November 23, 2016
In this letter, Human Rights Watch and Bankwatch highlight the ongoing repression of independent civil society in Azerbaijan and its impact on sustainable develpoment and urge the European Investment Bank to not provide financing for projects related to the country’s extractives sector such as the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).
Going abroad – a critique of the European Investment Bank’s External Lending Mandate
November 18, 2016
This report analyses how and if the European Investment Bank (EIB) is fulfilling its development role under the so-called External Lending Mandate (ELM) for the period 2014-2020. It sheds light on the more questionable quality and effectiveness of EIB operations and on the neglected areas of the bank’s performance outside Europe, such as transparency and access to information practices, its attitude towardstax evasion and tax dodging, human rights due diligence.
The EU bank’s dubious overseas development experience shows it cannot be a key player in Europe’s response to the plight of refugees – report
November 18, 2016
The EIB is increasingly given a prominent role in the EU’s response to the so-called refugee crisis stretching the bank’s operations well beyond its current mandate for overseas investments. Yet, a new report by Counter Balance and CEE Bankwatch Network takes a closer look at projects the EU’s house bank has been financing outside Europe to find a dismal track record on a range of issues from transparency to human rights. This, the report authors say, should serve as a warning sign for the European Parliament and Council as they consider boosting the bank’s mandate.
New cases at UN and EU bodies against Ukraine’s prolongation of nuclear licenses
November 8, 2016
As pressure from civil society and governments is mounting, UN and EU bodies acknowledge Ukraine’s lack of accountability for plans to extend the lifetime of its nuclear fleet. The country could be found in breach of international law. Once again.
Historic win for frontline communities: plans for coal power project in Turkey shelved
October 31, 2016
Communities in Aliağa, Turkey, who have been resisting the construction of coal power plants in the region for decades, have achieved a significant victory. Azerbaijan’s state-owned energy company SOCAR, has decided to shelve plans to construct an integrated 672 MW coal power plant in Aliağa, İzmir.
[Campaign update] Independent monitoring shows massive air pollution near Bosnian lignite plant
October 28, 2016
Air pollution in the town of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina was above legally allowed limits on twelve of 20 consecutive days as measurements made by Bankwatch and the Tuzla-based environmental group Center for Ecology and Energy show.
Ukrainischer Strom: aus veralteten AKWs
October 17, 2016
Nach der Atomkatastrophe von Tschernobyl könnte man meinen, dass die Erfahrung mit dem Supergau die Ukraine zur Abkehr von der Atomenergie bewogen hätte. Aber das Gegenteil ist der Fall: Bis heute deckt das Land die Hälfte des Strombedarfs mit Kernenergie. An vier Standorten werden dafür insgesamt 15 Reaktoren betrieben. Aber laut Umweltschützern wurden sechs davon bereits über ihre vorgesehene Laufzeit von 30 Jahren hinaus verlängert. Das missfällt auch der österreichischen Regierung.
Lawsuits and complaints pile up against planned Bosnia and Herzegovina coal power plants
October 17, 2016
Sarajevo-based environmental watchdog Ekotim has submitted on Friday (October 14) an official complaint to the Energy Community dispute settlement mechanism (1) due to lax pollution limits for a new Chinese-backed 450 MW unit at the Tuzla coal power plant in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The partnership principle and public participation in neighbouring countries: experiences with the European Neighbourhood Regulation
October 11, 2016
This paper highlights the deficiencies of the partnership principle and public participation within the European Neighbourhood Policy, in terms of addressing the political and cultural situation in the region. The paper provides recommendations for improvement during the midterm review of the European Neighbourhood Instrument and the proposal from the Commission proposal for a legislative framework for the new EU budget 2021-2027. The paper is based on the experience of CEE Bankwatch Network and its partners between 2012 and 2016.
New life for old nukes in Ukraine means more risk for people and planet
October 3, 2016
A decision today by Ukraine’s nuclear regulator to extend the operations of another Soviet-era reactor has been made in spite of the country’s failure to implement fully the obligations it took on when receiving EU funding for its ageing nuclear fleet.
