The Paris Agreement is a wake up call for the EU’s house bank to realign its investment strategy
May 23, 2016
The European Investment Bank (EIB) must adopt new directives and operating principles to play a meaningful role in realising the EU’s goal of a decarbonised and resource efficient economy, say CEE Bankwatch Network and Counter Balance ahead of the bank’s annual meeting during the EU finance ministers’ Council this Wednesday, May 25.
NGOs file a complaint against Vinci Russia for corruption of foreign public officials in Khimki Forest motorway case
May 10, 2016
A complaint filed last week is requesting an investigation into alleged corruption involving French company Vinci in the construction of a controversial motorway through Khimki Forest near Moscow. The complaint was filed to Nanterre’s chief investigating judge by civil society groups Sherpa and CEE Bankwatch Network, activists Evgenia Tchirikova and Mikhail Matveev, and with the support of Princip, defenders of the Khimki forest.
Parliament gets tough on control of EU Bank’s funds
April 28, 2016
In its annual resolution on the European Investment Bank adopted today in Brussels, Members of the European Parliament have criticised the bank’s support to projects under corruption investigations. They also called on the EIB to go further on fighting climate change, tax evasion and tax dodging. Counter Balance and CEE Bankwatch Network welcome the positions taken today by the Parliament in this resolution.
EU’s flagship climate instrument used to subsidise coal in Central and Eastern Europe
April 26, 2016
The EU’s carbon market rules allow Central and Eastern European Member States to invest up to €12 billion in coal powered energy production. As representatives of the EU Member States are due to discuss the EU ETS this Wednesday, the new publication “Fossil fuel subsidies from Europe’s carbon market” adds momentum to the need to overhaul this policy.
Lost in transition: Far-reaching changes needed as European bank marks 25 years
April 11, 2016
On April 15, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will be marking its 25th anniversary. Reflecting on two decades of monitoring the EBRD’s policies and projects, a new report from CEE Bankwatch Network raises concerns about a growing gap between the bank’s operations and its mandate.
Balkan protests show need for more EU action on air pollution – new analyses
February 29, 2016
Thousands of people took to the streets of Skopje, Pljevlja, Tuzla and other cities across the Western Balkans in December to demand action on chronic air pollution plaguing their communities. A new briefing shows that to a large degree these recurring smog incidents are the result of national authorities’ protracted inaction. Yet, air quality could be dramatically improved if two EU directives are transposed into the Energy Community Treaty, according to two legal analyses also released today.
Water disputes persist as Rio Tinto pushes ahead with second Oyu Tolgoi mine
February 11, 2016
Prague; Khanbogd Soum, Mongolia – A large new copper mine in Mongolia could cause irreversible damage to terrain and deprive water from some of the world’s last remaining nomadic herding groups, finds a new report released today by Oyu Tolgoi Watch, the Bank Information Center, CEE Bankwatch Network and Accountability Counsel.
NGOs urge the European Investment Bank not to finance the Southern Gas Corridor
January 28, 2016
A group of 27 NGOs sent an open letter to the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) today urging the Bank not to finance the Southern Gas Corridor, a 3500 kilometres-long chain of gas pipelines from Azerbaijan to Europe.
Report finds development banks fail people harmed by their projects
January 27, 2016
A new report launched today documents the hurdles communities and workers face in obtaining remedy from development banks whose projects cause them harm. The 11 civil society organizations that authored the report, Glass Half Full? The State of Accountability in Development Finance, call on development banks and the governments that run them to strengthen their systems for providing remedy to those harmed by the activities financed by the banks.
NEW REPORT: Misguided spending by enfants terribles is undermining Europe’s transition to a fossil-free future
January 26, 2016
Brussels/Prague, 25 January 2016 – EU billions destined to transform the carbon-intensive, inefficient energy systems of central and eastern Europe are being misspent, finds a new report today by CEE Bankwatch Network and Friends of the Earth Europe. Bad spending plans and a lack of climate commitments from nine central and eastern European governments is hampering Europe’s transition away from fossil fuels, the groups say.
