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.
Why coal is not the way forward – facts versus myths
November 14, 2016
Coal is the single biggest contributor to global climate change. But governments and investors planning new coal capacities have a range of flimsy arguments why coal would be the best or the only alternative. This briefing busts a number of myths surrounding coal, such as “coal is cheap”, “alleviates poverty” or “coal is clean”.
Guest post: China stokes global coal growth
September 27, 2016
China cuts coal at home but state owned companies and banks drive new coal expansion overseas, despite top level promises of green growth for developing countries, writes Beth Walker from China Dialogue.
New report reveals the ‘dark side’ of EIB funds: how the EU’s bank supports non-transparent investment funds based in tax havens
September 14, 2016
Counter Balance launches today a new report that critically analyses a little-known part of the European Investment Bank (EIB)’s operations: its use of private equity funds. The report is available for download at http://www.counter-balance.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/The-dark-side-of-EIB-funds_report.pdf The report presents a number of statistics and facts about recent investment funds financed by the EIB during the period 2011-2015.
Transparency: Much stays hidden
August 25, 2016
An initiative aimed at increasing the transparency of mining companies’ payments to governments across the globe has been slammed as paternalistic and ineffective by representatives of the people it was claimed to help. The extractive industries transparency initiative (EITI) was first announced by then UK prime minister Tony Blair at the world summit on sustainable development in Johannesburg in 2002. It was launched a year later, at a time when the entire developed world, led by Blair and pop stars Bono and Bob Geldof, seemed determined to save Africa from itself.
Dirty Precious Metals: Dumping European Toxic Waste in Tsumeb, Namibia
August 10, 2016
Based on a visit to Namibia this report assesses the environmental and social standards at the Tsumeb smelter, acquired by Canadian Dundee Precious Metals in 2010. The smelter specialises in working with some of the dirtiest copper concentrates half of
Global call to development banks: don’t fund projects that violate human rights
July 14, 2016
Growing number of national governments have been criminalising activities of land and human rights activists LONDON, July 14 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – International development banks should ensure their investments do not violate human rights or risk the lives of the activists who defend them, a group of global campaigners said on Thursday.
Going for a more country safeguards system in Asia-Pacific
May 24, 2016
The Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and the World Bank are partnering to boost safeguard systems in the Asia-Pacific, ensuring that development projects meet international standards for environmental and social protection. The three organizations will “help improve member countries’ safeguards systems and better manage the environmental and social risks associating with major developments,” Mark Kunzer, principal environment specialist of the ADB told Devex.
Complaint: Maladministration in the EIB’s appraisal and monitoring of the Nam Theun 2 dam in Laos
April 6, 2016
Eleven years after the European Investment Bank’s decision to support the construction of the
Dundee Precious Metals: Umweltvergiftungen in Armenien und Namibia
February 8, 2016
In dem kleinen Dorf Geghanush im Süden Armeniens regt sich Widerstand gegen das kanadische Bergbauunternehmen Dundee Precious Metals (DPM) und dessen lokales Tochterunternehmen, das in der Region Syunik verschiedene Edelmetalle abbaut. Laut einer Petition von 184 Bewohnern von Geghanush bedrohen die Rückhaltebecken der Mine, die DPM reaktiviert hat und nun für seine Rückstände nutzt, die Menschen, Tiere und die Umwelt in der Region.
