Improve quality of EIB lending before increasing quantity – letter to EIB governors
May 12, 2012
The letter, sent shortly before the European Investment Bank’s annual meeting, calls on EIB governors to improve the EIB’s lending before increasing its capital base as a response to the European crisis. The letter argues that in order to offer a long term solution, EIB backed projects should be economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. Right now this is not the case.
EBRD support for Kolubara locking in Serbia’s CO2 emissions
May 12, 2012
Linked to a slew of controversies, the Kolubara lignite mining project in Serbia is in line for support from European public banks. Corruption allegations, pollution at local level, irregularities in resettlement of local populations and not to forget a climate damaging approach to energy investments should be reason enough to find alternative options.
Public participation – experiences from IPA countries
April 30, 2012
In light of the new proposed Regulation for the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA), Bankwatch has compiled case studies from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia to illustrate the lack of political will to properly implement EU principles on public participation. This represents a significant problem in the implementation of the IPA funds in these countries.
Chernobyl at 26: nuclear dynamite is growing in Ukraine
April 26, 2012
26 years ago, the days after the nuclear accident in Chernobyl had been marked by the glaring lack of information. Today, Europe’s population is similarly clueless as back then about the nuclear risk brewing in Ukraine.
Europe’s energy games are not child’s play
April 23, 2012
A new campaign video illustrates Europe’s self-absorbed approach to its energy policy outside Europe. (A blog entry Cross-posted from the Counter Balance blog.)
Photo report from Kiev Chop road rehabilitation – dangers and hardships for local communities
April 13, 2012
The rehabilitation of the Kiev-Chop road, financed with the help of EBRD and EIB loans, was part of the preparations for the Euro 2012 championships in Poland and Ukraine. Due to a negligent implementation, the project resulted in local people having to face dangerous, even life threatening situations every day.
Kolubara independent Union request to withold credit for Kolubara
April 10, 2012
In its letter, the independent union at the Kolubara mine points at extremely difficult and inhumane working conditions and their employer’s reckless attitude toward employees. The union calls on the EBRD to not extend a loan to the Kolubara lignite mine before workers’ rights are being respected.
Letter to EBRD: Kolubara loan connected to resettlement and impacts on communities
March 30, 2012
In its letter to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Bankwatch member group CEKOR discusses issues related to the Kolubara lignite mining project that have not yet been clarified. Among them is the fact that the EBRD’s loan is indeed connected to the resettlement of the Vreoci community, something which the EBRD has denied so far, and the so far vague claim that the project will contribute to emission reductions and environmental improvements.
The Instrument for Pre-Accession – Analysis of regulations past and present and proposals for amendments
March 26, 2012
The briefing analyses the old Regulation on the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA) (2007-2013) and compares it with the new proposal (2014-2020), with a specific focus on environmental protection and transparency/partnership principle. Since the regulation is not strong enough in neither of these two areas, we provide amendments to the regulation’s articles. The briefing is a useful tool for advocating for better environmental protection and improvement of the public participation in decision making in the Western Balkan countries.
Vreoci community requests EBRD to suspend credit arrangement with Kolubara
March 13, 2012
The Vreoci community from the Kolubara mining basin requests from the EBRD to suspend the loan arrangements for the Kolubara lignite mine due to the constant and increasing violations of human and property rights by the Public Company Mining Basin “Kolubara” – Lazarevac.