EBRD Board of Directors must face responsibility for long-term partner EPS’ wrongdoings
July 25, 2011
Belgrade – Today, over 70 protesters from the Vreoci community is gathering in front of the Belgrade EBRD offices to protest abusive practices by state-owned Elektroprivreda Srbija (EPS), in London, the bank’s Board of Directors is congratulating itself for another profitable deal with the energy company. The EBRD cannot continue to brush off responsibility for corruption acts and human rights abuses committed by their long-term business partner.
Energoatom director confirms EBRD money will support nuclear lifespan expansion
July 22, 2011
The “Ukrainian NPP Safety Upgrade Package Program” currently under consideration for financing by the EBRD, will enable the lifespan expansion of old Soviet-time nuclear reactors, confirmed Gennady Sazonov, project and investment director of the production company Atomproektinzhynirynh, speaking during the first public consultations on the draft ecological assessment of the programme that was held in Kiev early this week.
EBRD should not condone illegal resettlements and corruption by investing in Kolubara
July 21, 2011
Belgrade – Next week, the EBRD is deciding whether to invest 80 million Euros in the Kolubara „environmental improvement” project in Serbia. With the help of this money, state-owned Elektroprivreda Srbija (EPS) will expand lignite production in Serbia at the cost of forcefully resettling local communities. CEKOR and CEE Bankwatch Network urge the EBRD to rethink this investment.
Polish Presidency highlights EU climate paradox
July 1, 2011
As Poland starts its EU Presidency today, serious doubts loom over its willingness to provide ambitious leadership on EU climate policies. Paradoxically, it is the EU’s own public banks which are sponsoring the country’s unfettered coal industry, the root cause of Polish climate scepticism.
No guarantees of greener spending in EU budget
June 30, 2011
The next long-term budget for the European Union offers ways to fight climate change and to move Europe’s economies to a sustainable development path but still leaves the door open for harmful spending, according to Friends of the Earth Europe and CEE Bankwatch. The analysis comes after the proposal for the EU budget post-2013 was presented in Brussels last night.
Civil society groups in the Arab region say Western financial aid plan could divert the revolutions’ goals of economic and social justice
June 27, 2011
Arab civil society and international NGOs are opposing the EU and US backed financial aid package for post-revolutionary countries in their region on the grounds that it could damage the democratic transitions and divert the revolutions’ goals of economic and social justice.
Public finance for mining must bring more than a mirage of development benefits in Mongolian desert
June 13, 2011
Ulan Baatar, Mongolia – Civil society groups are demanding that investments from international financial institutions to extract resources in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert guarantee that livelihoods are protected for those living near the mines and profit windfalls are used as an impetus to social and economic development for the region.
Police investigates irregularities at TES 6 in Slovenia
June 8, 2011
Ljubljana, Slovenia — The Slovenian police confirmed June 7 that it was looking into allegations of mismanagement at coal plant Sostanj, including serious questions over the building of new lignite block TES 6.
EBRD should change mandate to prioritise people and the environment, says Bankwatch
May 20, 2011
Astana, Kazakhstan – After twenty years of promoting market economies in central and eastern Europe, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development needs to move swiftly and genuinely towards prioritising social justice and transition to energy efficient, renewable energy based economies if it wants to bring real benefits to the region, says a new policy paper from CEE Bankwatch Network issued on the occasion of the EBRD annual meeting in Astana May 20 (1).
Slovenian government drops support for Sostanj coal plant; European public banks must follow suit
May 5, 2011
Ljubljana, Slovenia — CEE Bankwatch Network and Slovene NGO FOCUS are calling on the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to review their plans to provide 650 million euros in loans for the controversial 600 MW TES 6 block at Slovenian lignite plant Sostanj.
