Romanian court rejects environmental permit, halting destruction of 159 hectares of forests and putting breaks on coal mining expansion
December 11, 2015
Bucharest – A Bucharest court yesterday annulled the environment permit for the felling of another 159 hectares of forest in Gorj country, effectively preventing the expansion of the Roșia lignite mine.
New Bankwatch study: European “green energy” funding for hydropower threatens pristine Balkan rivers
December 11, 2015
Radolfzell, Vienna, Prague – A wave of hydropower development fuelled by European public funding and EU companies is endangering pristine river environments in the Balkans, finds a new study by CEE Bankwatch Network released today.
In Hungary, students find the answer to the 7.5 billion question
December 11, 2015
In September 2015, 164 classes totalling 4 000 high school students participated in a half-year contest by Bankwatch member group MTVSZ culminating in December’s final event, where the top ten teams from around the country helped close the 2015 European Year of Development.
Financing for hydropower in protected areas in southeast Europe
December 11, 2015
Southeast Europe is experiencing a wave of hydropower projects. In a region with a deadly combination of Europe’s last wild rivers, rampant corruption and inadequate nature protection, the potential for damage is immense. In order to address this issue, we need to know who is making it happen. This research aims – to the extent possible given the secrecy around the financial sector – to find out who are the main actors involved in financing hydropower projects in the region, both overall and inside of protected areas. Update January 2017 The EBRD has said that financing has been cancelled for four small hydropower plants in Macedonia: Zrnovska reka 1, Zrnovska reka 2, Estericka reka, Kadina reka. In addition, financing has been cancelled for the 68 MW Boskov Most plant in the Mavrovo National Park, also in Macedonia. Regarding the Ternove SHPP in Albania, the EBRD has said that it had conducted an on-site investigation into the concerns received in a letter from an affected citizen. The bank found nothing to substantiate the allegations. Bankwatch will continue to monitor the issue.
9 reasons why the EU’s bank is no climate leader
December 8, 2015
The European Investment Bank’s track record stands in stark contrast to its pose as a hero in the fight against climate change.
Šefčovič’s underwhelming outlook for the Energy Union’s role in the energy transition
December 1, 2015
On 20 November 2015, following the presentation of the first State of the Energy Union, Vice-President Šefčovič hosted a Twitter Chat. Also several Bankwatchers joined the discussion. Here are some points we found noteworthy.
‘No peaceful atom’ film premier at One World festival in Slovakia
November 30, 2015
A Bankwatch film about Ukraine’s nuclear sector and the controversial European public funding for it was premiered at the One World film festival in Slovakia.
Confirmatory application for disclosure of EIB documents related to Volkswagen loans
November 24, 2015
Following the revelations around Volkswagen cheating emission tests, Bankwatch requested information from the European Investment Bank about its loans to the car maker. After some delays, the bank released only part of the requested information, despite the profound public interest in the case.
No resistance without community – an open assembly, 29 November 2015
November 20, 2015
Mega infrastructure projects are imposed in the North an in the South of the world in the name of progress and “development”. But what does development mean today? Experiences of resistance to mega-projects have in some cases allowed to create new processes oriented at “building community”. What are such processes and how do they look like? At an open assembly taking place in Avigliana, Italy on 29 November 2015 people who have made such experience will meet and collectively think about the meaning of building community.
Volt II, a ‘sight-seeing tour’ to challenge large energy infrastructure
November 19, 2015
Inspired by the toxic tours in Mexico, Ecuador and the United States, the Catalan organisation ODG organised the tour VOLT II, challenging large energy infrastructure that followed the fantastic experience of the Volt Oligotòxic in Catalonia in 2014. by Alfons Pérez, Observatorio de la Deuda en la Globalización (ODG)
