How embarrassing: EBRD transparency ranked ‘poorest’ among multilaterals
October 29, 2013
As the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development revises its safeguard policies, the Aid Transparency Index ranks its commitment to openness and transparency as the weakest in comparison with similar institutions.
Guest post: EBRD financed Ukrainian agribusiness causes local insecurities
October 28, 2013
Environmental groups in Ukraine have highlighted the negative local impacts of one of the biggest agribusinesses in the country, MHP, that is in line to receive additional credit by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Dirty power plants in Western Balkans and Ukraine set to become EU priority
October 22, 2013
Belgrade – Several environmentally damaging coal and hydropower projects across the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova are likely to be included this Thursday on a priority list of projects of the European Commission-backed Energy Community, meaning they will be fast-tracked for financing over the next years.
Western Balkans and Ukraine: EC-backed Energy Community to prioritise coal plants that threaten EU long-term climate targets
October 22, 2013
The Western Balkans countries are aspiring to become members of the European Union. On 24 October the Ministerial Council of the EC-backed Energy Community will approve a list of priority energy infrastructure projects resulting from the Regional Energy Strategy known as Projects of Energy Community Interest (PECIs) for the Western Balkans, Moldova and Ukraine. These projects would be prioritised for fast-track approval and public financing.
NGOs welcome enquiry by Paris prosecutor into financial crimes related to the VINCI CONCESSIONS RUSSIE SA Moscow-St. Petersburg motorway
October 4, 2013
Paris, 3 October 2013 – Todays announcement by the Paris Prosecutor to open a preliminary enquiry into financial crimes related to the construction of a motorway between Moscow and St. Petersburg [1] has been welcomed by NGOs Sherpa, Russie-Libertés, CEE Bankwatch Network, MOBO Princip, and members of Russian civil society, who lodged the complaint in June 2013.
Leading green NGOs in Europe tell the EBRD to step out of coal
September 30, 2013
Brussels – As the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development today closes the public consultation period on its upcoming energy strategy, a coalition of the ten largest environmental organisations working at the European level, the Green 10, is calling on the bank to phase out fossil fuels from its future lending, beginning with coal, and to rule out lending to risky energy sources, such as nuclear and shale gas.
Comments on EBRD’s draft energy strategy
September 24, 2013
Bankwatch’s detailed comments on the draft energy sector strategy of the European Bank for Reconstruction suggests the introduction of an emissions performance standard at the level of 350 gCO2/kWh for the bank’s fossil fuel lending. It also contains comments on other energy sources, carbon markets, energy systems, carbon capture and storage, nuclear safety, and in an additional annex it lays out sustainability criteria for hydropower development.
Summary of Bankwatch’s comments on EBRD’s draft energy strategy
September 24, 2013
In our full comments on the draft energy sector strategy of the European Bank for Reconstruction Bankwatch suggests the introduction of an emissions performance standard at the level of 350 gCO2/kWh for the bank’s fossil fuel lending. This document summarises the most important points made and a collection of most recommendations.
Letter to EBRD directors: Ensure proper investigation into new corruption arrests at Kolubara mine
September 20, 2013
On Monday, September 9, 2013, Serbian police arrested the former director and the former financial director of the Kolubara Mining Basin, as well as a businessman and several other individuals on the basis of suspected fraud in land expropriation proceedings around the Kolubara mine. This letter asks the EBRD board of directors to ensure that the EBRD thoroughly investigates the issues around these latest arrests.
Let’s talk about IPA II (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance) – A toolkit for civil society organisations
September 14, 2013
This publication (available in different languages) is an updated version of the “Let’s talk about IPA” toolkit from 2011. It aims to give guidance and to support NGOs in Western Balkan countries and stakeholders interested or involved in the programming cycle for pre-accession funding, encouraging them to fully exploit all opportunities for public participation within the process.