A Partnership of unequals – Electricity exports from the eastern neighbourhood and western Balkans
June 7, 2012
Cooperation in the energy sector is one of the European Union’s key priorities in its relationships with neighbouring states. Although the promotion of energy efficiency, energy savings and the use of renewable energy sources should be the primary areas of cooperation along with “energy security”, the latter receives the lion’s share of attention and in several cases also a disproportionally large amount of financial support. This can have several negative environmental and social implications as this study shows.
Letter to EBRD requesting evaluation of K2R4 safety modernisation before considering new loan to Ukraine’s nuclear energy sector
June 1, 2012
Due to a number of so far unfulfilled project measures in an EBRD financed safety modernisation project in Ukraine (K2/R4 post start-up safety modernisation programme), Bankwatch has asked the EBRD’s Chief Evaluator for a thorough evaluation before further loans for Ukraine’s nuclear energy company Energoatom are being considered.
EBRD refutes claim it will fund Ukrainian reactor life extensions
May 31, 2012
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has rejected claims by an anti-nuclear group that a loan it is considering together with Euratom for Ukraine’s nuclear sector will be used to extend the operating lives of the country’s Soviet-era reactors.
EBRD energy lending report: conflicting investments end up contradicting climate science
May 17, 2012
London – Almost half of the 6.7 billion euros lent by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) between 2006-2011 goes to support for fossil fuels, according to a report issued today by CEE Bankwatch Network. Support for coal, oil and gas must be discontinued altogether, argues Bankwatch, if the bank’s commendable efforts on increasing financing for renewables and energy efficiency are to have a positive impact in the global fight against climate change.
Corruption cases put EBRD due diligence in the spotlight
May 14, 2012
In recent months bribery and money laundering allegations levelled at a former EBRD banker, as well as revelations that an EBRD staffer, now suspended, is one of the founders of the far-right, racist organisation the English Defence League have not made for great PR for the EBRD.
Revolution at the EBRD required for any new role in Egypt
May 14, 2012
The figures should be well known. Somehow, though, in the western world, and especially in official quarters, they tend to get overlooked in the rush to impose the ‘next latest thing’ on post-revolution Egypt. The country’s seven percent GDP growth figure in 2007, hailed by the World Bank and others, concealed a multitude of injustices. For one thing, average per capita GDP growth plummeted from 4.1 per cent prior to 1990 to 2.7 per cent during the neoliberal era set in motion by the IMF structural adjustment regime in 1991.
Kiev-Chop road rehabilitation
May 14, 2012
The rehabilitation of Kiev-Chop road project that received support from the EBRD and the EIB (each EUR 200 million) was supposed to rehabilitate the M06 Kiev-Chop Highway to European standards. Although the project was rated Category B (without significant adverse environmental impacts) it has seriously affected the life of the villagers of Bolyarka and Berezivka (Vasilivsky district, Zhitomir region) that are located along the rehabilitated road. The briefing is based on a letter sent to the EBRD’s Environmental Department in April 2012.
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.
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.
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.
