Naše predsedníctvo za solidaritu
July 14, 2016
Začiatkom júla začalo Slovensko predsedať Rade Európskej únie. Uprostred politických turbulencií nielen u nás doma, ale aj v Európe sa slovenská vláda rozhodla podporiť zaznamenaniahodné nástroje ekonomickej politiky.
Romania Needs to Adapt Its Strategy to Decoupling of GDP and Energy Consumption
July 8, 2016
Guest post: Municipalities are crucial for citizen-owned renewable energy in the Czech Republic
June 21, 2016
Czech environmental and law groups have proposed a law amendment to revive the disadvantaged renewable energy sector in their country. Karel Polanecky from Bankwatch member group Hnuti Duha explains their initiative.
Submission to European Court of Justice: Request to release documents on European Commission decision on Euratom loan for Ukraine
June 16, 2016
Earlier in 2016, Bankwatch approached the European Commission’s Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs, and made a request for documents related to the EUR 300 million Euratom loan for Ukraine’s nuclear safety upgrade programme. Specifically, we asked for the evidence used by the Commission in making the first EUR 100 million disbursement from the loan.
The European Investment Bank and its energy sector lending 2013-2015
June 14, 2016
This analysis of the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) energy lending shows that the bank has been effectively hindering Europe’s energy transition. Most notably, during 2013-2015, EIB lending to renewables in Europe has dropped whereas its lending to fossil fuels has modestly but consistently increased. Moreover, while EU leaders have repeatedly emphasised the ‘energy efficiency first’ principle, the EIB has been lagging behind with only 3.6% of its lending across sectors going to energy conservation projects.
The EU house bank is holding back Europe’s shift to sustainable energy
June 14, 2016
On the occasion of the EU Sustainable Energy Week, a new Bankwatch analysis shows that the European Investment Bank (EIB) has been effectively hindering Europe’s energy transition.
EFSI case study: Bratislava bypass: A transport public-private partnership with high costs and limited benefits
June 8, 2016
The so-called European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) should unlock additional investment of at least EUR 315 billion over a three year period (2015-2017). One of the projects benefiting from the financing concerns the design, construction, operation and maintenance of about 27km of a motorway around Bratislava. The project will come with high costs, will damage biodiversity and likely not solve local transport problems.
Financial trouble of Ukraine’s nuclear operator calls Europe’s financial support into question
June 6, 2016
Energoatom is currently unable to serve loans from European institutions. Even though a European Commission study assessed the company’s credit worthiness, Ukrainian taxpayers now have to pay back part of the loans.
Time for Europe to stop supporting Ukraine’s risky nuclear power sector
May 18, 2016
Three decades after Chernobyl, nuclear power remains a mainstay of Ukrainian energy supply. Despite persistent safety problems, the Ukrainian government has approved lifetime extensions for four of its 15 nuclear units since 2010, and two more could be greenlighted later this year. What is more, Ukraine’s nuclear sector survives in part thanks to European support. The EU needs to stop supporting Kiev’s risky nuclear energy programme.
The problems with industrial chicken producer MHP’s expansion in Ukraine
May 11, 2016
MHP is at the centre of concern for local communities and civil society organisations in Ukraine, because of the way the company engages stakeholders, acquires land, and impacts the environment, water and the local economic development. Since 2010 the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved three loans for MHP, totalling USD 205 million. Whether or not the company is in compliance with Ukrainian law, local people think they are not adequately protected and do not have an equal voice against a large corporation if it decides to begin construction.
