Eleventh hour for protected Kresna Gorge as Bulgaria presses on with destructive motorway
November 28, 2018
With construction advancing in Bulgaria’s Kresna gorge, discussion happening now at the Bern Convention in Strasbourg having taken on an increased sense of urgency.
Will the long-awaited bypass road pave the way to reconciliation?
November 15, 2018
Villagers in rural Olyanytsya, in central Ukraine, are hopeful that village life is about to become a lot more bearable. After putting up with intense heavy vehicle traffic from the industrial farming operations of agro-giant Mironivsky Hliboproduct (MHP) for years, the company has finally finished building a bypass road to divert traffic around residential areas.
Comments on the draft EBRD Agribusiness Sector Strategy
September 12, 2018
These comments focus on the sustainability of EBRD investments, the need for better governance in the sector (both corporate and institutional), on issues that the draft Strategy is missing and needs to include or define better. While the draft inclu
Comments on the EBRD’s draft Country Strategy for Uzbekistan
August 22, 2018
We call on the EBRD to outline in the Uzbekistan Country Strategy a new strategic approach or a comprehensive plan for supporting Uzbekistan’s ambitious reform path in the areas of Good governance and protection of rights and freedoms of citizens. The
Environmentalism and democracy on the rise in Albania
August 1, 2018
Public participation is a prerequisite to functioning democracy. Environmental justice is crucial to sustainable development. But in Albania, a small, southeastern European country only recently emerging from decades-long, self-imposed isolation, democracy is still struggling to be born, and suffers from often being confused with unchecked capitalism.
Ombudsman calls for greater transparency of export credit agencies
July 9, 2018
The European Ombudsman has sided with the civil society demanding the European Commission to improve its oversight of the EU Export Credit Agencies (ECAs). The decision upholds an earlier ruling that required the Commission to ensure better compliance of these financial institutions with the EU law.
Way off track in Riga, as controversial EU-funded tram project plows ahead
March 7, 2018
Business interests continue to overshadow public concerns with regards to the dubious €100-million tram project in Riga.
How could participatory budgeting be introduced in the post-2020 EU Budget?
January 17, 2018
This is an analysis of best practice amongst the growing trend towards democratising public spending through participatory budgeting. With recommendations for the introduction of pilot processes within the post-2020 EU Budget, empowering citizens in sp
