European Development Bank Significantly Strengthens its Grievance Mechanism – Reformed Mechanism Now More Independent
May 9, 2019
(Amsterdam, Prague, Washington, D.C.) — Civil society organizations welcomed the new grievance mechanism policy for the London-based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Goldman winner to development banks: drop billion dollar Nenskra dam in Georgia
April 29, 2019
The 2019 winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize from Europe Ana Colovic Lesoska has today called on development banks – the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Asian Development Bank and (ADB) the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) – to drop their funding for the Nenskra hydropower project planned in Georgia’s Caucasus mountains.
EU-China summit an opportunity to tackle Chinese support for coal in southeast Europe
April 8, 2019
Brussels – With the EU-China summit kicking off in Brussels on April 9, Bankwatch launches a new analysis [1] showing 3.5 GW of new coal may be built in southeast Europe with Chinese support, including in EU member states Romania and Greece.
EU parliament reverses course, votes for strong action on climate with future funds for Europe’s needy regions
March 27, 2019
For immediate release. Brussels, Prague – A vote today by the Parliament has excluded fossil fuels from the EUR 320 billion European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Cohesion Funds for 2021-2027, signalling a clear commitment to the EU’s obligations to reduce greenhouse gases under the Paris Agreement and its net-zero emissions Long Term Strategy.
Energy Community opens infringement procedure against Bosnia-Herzegovina over illegal Tuzla 7 state aid
March 26, 2019
The Energy Community Secretariat has today announced that it is officially opening a dispute settlement procedure on the planned Federal guarantee for a EUR 614 loan from the China Eximbank to build the Tuzla 7 coal power plant in Bosnia-Herzegovina.[1] The procedure can potentially lead to delays in the EU accession process and temporary suspension of financing by EU banks.
Energy Community: Western Balkan coal subsidies worth over 1.2 billion euros in 2017
March 25, 2019
For immediate release. Energy Community countries propped up coal mining and electricity generation with direct and indirect public subsidies totalling at least 2.4 billion annually, out of which around half were provided by Western Balkan countries, shows a study (1) released today by the Vienna-based Secretariat of the Energy Community Treaty, the international treaty working to integrate the energy markets of the EU with those of its neighbours.
Lack of ambition on full display as eastern Member States graded on first climate and energy plans submitted to Commission
March 22, 2019
Member States across central and eastern Europe continue to do less than their fair share in setting the course for the EU to meet its long-term energy and climate commitments, finds a new Bankwatch analysis [1] of the national energy and climate plans (NECP) in eight Member States.
Romania’s dodgy math: will the country retire 2.2 GW of coal by the end of 2019?
March 13, 2019
Romania’s National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) contains dodgy maths that seems to imply the country will retire 2.2 GW of coal by the end of 2019, according to an analysis of the document published today by Bankwatch Romania.
Bosnia-Herzegovina Federal parliament guarantees Chinese coal plant loan in contempt of EU law
March 8, 2019
The Bosnia-Herzegovina Federal House of Representatives yesterday approved an illegal loan guarantee for a EUR 614 million China Exim Bank loan for the Tuzla 7 coal power plant, in blunt contempt of its commitment to abide by EU law on subsidies under the Energy Community Treaty.
Energy Community: Bosnia-Herzegovina guarantee for Chinese loan for Tuzla 7 is state aid, breaks EU law
March 5, 2019
The Energy Community confirmed today that the loan guarantee the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina Parliament wants to approve for the EUR 614 million China Exim Bank loan for the Tuzla 7 coal power plant indeed constitutes state aid according to EU law. The Energy Community had commissioned an expert analysis to look into the issue following a complaint by Aarhus Resource Centre and Bankwatch.
