NGOs call on the EBRD not to finance “high risk” underground HPP in Croatia
October 26, 2011
Zagreb — Croatian and international environmental organisations have today called on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) not to go ahead with a planned EUR 123 million loan for the Ombla hydropower plant near Dubrovnik in Croatia, due to be approved by the bank’s Board of Directors on November 8. In an open letter to the bank, the organisations point to ecological, economic, and procedural problems with the plans, which even the consultants hired by the EBRD to assess the project have described as “high risk”.
Art installation at Berlaymont denounces banking on coal
October 19, 2011
Brussels – With an art installation that symbolizes EU citizens locked in a polluted environment, the Slovenian artist Marko Kumer Murč and Slovene environmentalists from Focus protest against European public and private banks pouring hundreds of millions of euros into a new lignite plant in their country, at Sostanj. Many Slovenians oppose this project and the Slovenian parliament has just refused to support a state guarantee for the banks’ loans. The action is supported by the international NGOs Banktrack and CEE Bankwatch Network, which are campaigning against the project.
Three new Czech incinerators to burn EU regional funds
October 13, 2011
Prague- CEE Bankwatch Network has learnt that the Czech Republic is planning to use 80% of regional funds dedicated to big waste projects for 2007-2013 [1] for the construction of new incinerators, which are three times more expensive than alternative waste management solutions.
Managers of EBRD-funded Kolubara mines in Serbia arrested for embezzlement
October 4, 2011
Belgrade -16 current and former members of the management of Serbian state-owned energy company Elektroprivreda Srbija (EPS) were arrested today and yesterday across the country over allegations of embezzlement of company funds. Some of these are people that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has entrusted this summer with managing an 80 million Euros loan for the development of the Kolubara lignite fields near Belgrade.
Resource Efficiency Roadmap must come with money from EU Budget
September 20, 2011
Brussels – The Resource Efficiency Roadmap published today by the European Commission envisages all kinds of right recommendations for Europe to become a renewable based, resource efficient economy but the actual value of this document depends largely on the EU budget.
EU funds for transport used overwhelmingly for polluting roads in central and eastern Europe
September 6, 2011
Brussels – CEE Bankwatch Network publishes today a study showing that central and eastern European governments have been using EU funds overwhelmingly for road over rail development, ignoring EU calls for decarbonisation of the transport sector. The Commission can make sure that this pattern is not replicated with the next EU Budget (2013-2020) by introducing strict conditionalities in the new Cohesion Policy regulation next month.
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.
