EBRD: New president – new direction for the bank?
April 2, 2012
With the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in the process of selecting a new president [1] as the term of current office holder Thomas Mirow approaches its end, CEE Bankwatch Network, an NGO that has been monitoring the EBRD for over a decade, makes a call on the bank’s shareholders and new president to reassess some of its past – faulty – approaches:
Bankwatch report: EU supports nuclear life time expansion in Ukraine
March 8, 2012
Money from Euratom and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is to be used to finance the life time expansion of Ukrainian nuclear reactors, 12 of which had initially been scheduled to close down no later than 2020, according to an expert report published today by CEE Bankwatch Network.
The dirty French-Slovenian connection
February 23, 2012
Slovenian state anti-corruption body claims ALSTOM could have benefited from corrupt acts to get deal to build new lignite plant at Sostanj.
Romania: New coal plants to be built with EU aid for greening economy
February 22, 2012
Bucharest – One of the eight Member States applying for EU help consisting of free of charge GHG emissions allowances from 2013 to 2019, Romania intends to implement investments which will lead to maintaining or even increasing the high share of coal in the country’s electricity production, thus contradicting the goals of the EU aid scheme.
Kyrgyz lawmakers endorse NGO’s environmental complaints over Kumtor Gold Mine
February 16, 2012
Bishkek – Both the Kyrgyz government and the parliament took on board this week concerns expressed by environmentalists that the Kumtor gold mine operated by Canadian Centerra Gold Corporation poses serious threats to livelihoods and the environment, including causing the melting of two glaciers in the area.
Billions of EU funds wasted on dead-end investments
February 2, 2012
Brussels – Substantial environmental and social harm is being caused by controversial projects costing billions of euros of EU money, according to research published today by Friends of the Earth Europe and CEE Bankwatch Network.
Kyrgyzstan: Independent expertise exposes damage done by Kumtor gold exploitation
January 31, 2012
Bishkek — Canadian company Centerra Gold, owner and operator of Kumtor Mine, the largest gold mine in Central Asia managed by a Western company, has been contaminating local waters and glaciers while hiding evidence of such negative impacts from public oversight, reveals a report authored by an independent US-based expert published today by CEE Bankwatch Network (1). Had it operated in its home country Canada, Centerra’s practices would have caused the company serious trouble with the law.
Bankwatch report and video: Mongolia’s mining bonanza poses threat to locals and planet
January 30, 2012
A new report launched today by CEE Bankwatch Network, urgewald and OT Watch (1), following on-the-ground research in Mongolia, details the impact of the country’s mining boom on local populations, shedding light on the ignored side of one of the biggest business stories of today: Mongolia’s planned public offering of the state-owned Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi and the rights to one of the world’s largest untapped coal reserves. (2)
Croatian civil society groups ask new government to withdraw from Ombla hydro project
December 16, 2011
Croatian environmental groups today held a protest action outside of the Croatian parliament calling on the country’s new government not to go ahead with the controversial EBRD-financed EUR 150 million Ombla HPP project.
World’s largest public lender almost doubles support to fossil fuels in past 4 years
December 8, 2011
Brussels — The European Investment Bank has increased its fossil fuel lending from 2.8 billion euros to 5 billion euros between 2007 and 2010, according to a study published today by environmental NGO CEE Bankwatch Network.
