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.
Overblown job promises in southeast Europe’s coal sector show the need for a just transition – report
November 14, 2016
Promises for new jobs in south-east Europe’s coal sector are exaggerated, a new Bankwatch report reveals. Hardly any coal operations across the region are economically viable, and as a result many coal workers, especially in the mines, are set to lose their jobs, even if the plans for countless new power plants materialise. Governments, coal workers and their wider communities need to work together towards a just transition.
New South East Europe NGO scorecard report shows mixed progress towards a sustainable energy sector
November 8, 2016
Progress – albeit uneven – is being made towards increasing sustainability in South East Europe’s energy sector, according to a new scorecard report launched today by a group of NGOs. CO2 emissions, electricity losses and energy intensity have all seen decreases in most countries in the region, but less progress has been made on increasing the share of solar and wind energy and tackling corruption.
Historic win for frontline communities: plans for coal power project in Turkey shelved
October 31, 2016
Communities in Aliağa, Turkey, who have been resisting the construction of coal power plants in the region for decades, have achieved a significant victory. Azerbaijan’s state-owned energy company SOCAR, has decided to shelve plans to construct an integrated 672 MW coal power plant in Aliağa, İzmir.
Azerbaijan’s crackdown on civil society must not be tolerated, international NGOs tell industry transparency body
October 25, 2016
The Azerbaijani government’s relentless repression of civil society should disqualify the country from participating in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), 18 international groups wrote in a letter sent on Thursday (October 20) to members of the EITI board.
Lawsuits and complaints pile up against planned Bosnia and Herzegovina coal power plants
October 17, 2016
Sarajevo-based environmental watchdog Ekotim has submitted on Friday (October 14) an official complaint to the Energy Community dispute settlement mechanism (1) due to lax pollution limits for a new Chinese-backed 450 MW unit at the Tuzla coal power plant in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
New life for old nukes in Ukraine means more risk for people and planet
October 3, 2016
A decision today by Ukraine’s nuclear regulator to extend the operations of another Soviet-era reactor has been made in spite of the country’s failure to implement fully the obligations it took on when receiving EU funding for its ageing nuclear fleet.
Juncker investment plan: deep reforms necessary for sustainable future
September 28, 2016
Cash that should be flowing into projects that boost environmental sustainability is instead fuelling outdated carbon-intensive projects like motorways, airports, and fossil-fuel infrastructure, according to a new report on Europe’s investment plan released today
Juncker Investment Plan 2 and review of EU budget offer no progress towards Europe’s long-term climate goals
September 15, 2016
What should have been two significant contributions to Europe’s war chest in the fight against climate change will in fact leave the planet short-changed and open the door to even more polluting fossil fuel projects, argue campaigners at Bankwatch, Friends of the Earth Europe and Climate Action Network Europe.
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.
