Silesian coal – a quiet exit
November 27, 2017
In Upper Silesia, Poland’s main coal region, it is difficult to find anyone who still believes that coal has a future. The region needs help in dealing with the environmental fallout from decades of a coal-centred economy and a platform to debate and define its destiny.
Bulgarian gold in offshore paradise linked to European public lender
November 21, 2017
The profits of the richest Bulgarian gold mine are “optimised” through several Caribbean offshore companies and a Dutch cooperative. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is one of the shareholders.
Comments on the EBRD’s draft Extractive Mining Industries Strategy for 2018-2022
November 20, 2017
Bankwatch’s comments focus on the following areas: Sustainability and the Circular Economy, Transparency Standards, Human Rights, Coal Mining and Climate, Diversification, Resilience and Integration. See also our comments on Thermal and coking coal in
Thermal and coking coal in the EBRD’s draft Mining Strategy
November 20, 2017
In its new draft mining strategy, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development demonstrates that it is still ready to finance coal mining.
Europe’s energy citizens are on the rise – if we let them
November 6, 2017
Small-scale renewable energy sources are being built all over Europe. Examples from the Czech Republic show that their success depends on adjusting them to the local environment and making sources for financing, such as EU funding, more accessible.
MHP: ‘Business as usual’ while communities suffer
September 29, 2017
The massive loans by public banks for Ukraine’s monopolist poultry producer MHP have not brought the company’s performance and culture in line with the relevant EU and EBRD standards. Rural communities say that if it continues with ‘business as usual’, they face more violence and suppression.
Locals in Upper Nitra, Slovakia agree on the future of their region after coal phaseout
September 22, 2017
One of the positive outcomes of the debate about Europe’s Energy Union was an increased attention to the issue of Just Transition*. Even more promising is that the debate is moving from Brussels to the very regions that are facing an imminent coal phaseout. One of those regions is Horna Nitra /Upper Nitra in Slovakia.
Ukrainian civil society resists efforts to be co-opted by big agro
September 20, 2017
The controversial Ukrainian agribusiness giant Myronivsky Hliboproduct (MHP) tries to handle community relations by putting publicity spin on the outcomes of a long overdue discussion with civil society.
EU funds in central and eastern Europe: ‘partnership principle’ still not translating to ‘partnership in practice’
August 29, 2017
A new report assesses the state of play with the involvement of civil society partners in EU funds.
EU funds briefing: implementation of the partnership principle
August 29, 2017
This report provides an assessment of the application of the “European Code of Conduct on Partnership” (ECCP) during the first half phase of ESI Funds implementation in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Poland and Slovakia.