Distribution of EU funds in Poland seen as flawed by local officials
October 18, 2007
The selection of projects for billions of euros of EU funding in Poland is widely perceived by Polish municipalities to be politically-driven and non-transparent, new research conducted by Bankwatch member group the Institute of Environmental Economics (IEE) has found.
Albanian referendum aims to put a break on Italian oil and gas plans for renowned Vlora Bay
October 12, 2007
Vlora, Albania – The city council of Vlora in Albania this week approved a citizens’ initiative to hold a public referendum on the development in the picturesque Bay of Vlora of a 200,000 ton oil and gas terminal that is being promoted by the Italian La Petrolífera Italo Rumena company. If constructed, the terminal would become another component of a controversial industrial and energy park located less than six kilometres north of Vlora, a city of more than 150,000 inhabitants.
Rosia Montana – no improvement in sight for tarnished gold project
August 30, 2006
The recent public debate organised in Bucharest to discuss the controversial USD 500 million Rosia Montana gold mine project have been disrupted and debased by the actions of the projects sponsor, the Canadian company Rosia Montana Gold Corporation (RMGC), allege Romanian groups. The Bucharest-based TERRA Mileniul III and the Centre for Legal Resources maintain that the discussions taking place as part of the gold project’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure have been tainted by RMGC’s bussing in of rowdy supporters of the project and also because of crucial missing project documentation.
Is the EIB cooling climate change or fueling it? New report sceptical about EU bank’s investments in renewables
June 2, 2005
With the European Commission sponsored Green Week underway in Brussels, a new study has found that the European Investment Bank’s commitment to investing in renewable energy is in serious doubt owing to the EIB’s opaque information procedures and its definition of renewable energy projects.
World Bank Spins Renewable Energy Conference. Ignores Extractive Industries Review. Continues Oily Business As Usual.
June 3, 2004
Environmentalists and development advocates today decried the World Bank’s announcement of support for renewable energy as mere spin. Stating that the proposed increase is marginal at best and does nothing to address the Bank’s ongoing bias towards fossil fuels, the groups called on the Bank to adopt the recommendations of its own studies and phase out support for coal and oil while dramatically increasing its support for renewable energy.
Georgians demand action to save their homes from oil pipeline. Official complaint to IFC reveals shocking BTC negligence
March 16, 2004
Residents of Rustavi, Georgia’s third city, have today submitted an official complaint to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) concerning the potentially disastrous construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline only 250 metres from a settlement of high-rise buildings. [1] The residents are taking this step following a prolonged period of uncertainty for them and their homes, a lack of information and response from officials in Georgia and violent intimidation from the regional police force.
Religious leaders urge World Bank president to support Extractive Industries Review
February 17, 2004
Over 100 Jewish and Christian leaders sent a letter to World Bank President James Wolfensohn today urging him to support full implementation of recommendations in the recently released report Striking a Better Balance: The Extractive Industries Review.
BTC pipeline court case in Tbilisi, Georgia on January 20
January 15, 2004
The democratic values of Mikhail Saakashvili’s Georgia will come under scrutiny next week when Georgian environment group Green Alternative brings legal proceedings against the Georgian government and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline Company (BTC Co).
