Never again Sostanj, NGOs warn European public banks after Slovenia debacle
March 20, 2013
After the EIB and the EBRD disbursed a promised 650 million euros for Slovenian lignite plant TES 6 on March 8, Focus Slovenia, CEE Bankwatch Network, and 96 other NGOs are today sending a letter to the two banks calling on them to never commit to such a misguided loan again.
[Campaign update] Woes in Kosovo’s energy sector trigger demand for Minister’s removal
March 18, 2013
Amid increasing public outcry over electricity prices and the privatisation of the KEDS distribution company, KOSID, an industrious NGO coalition from Kosovo has called for the dismissal of Besim Beqaj, the country’s Minster for Economic Development.
The Western Balkans: EBRD’s public money to finance coal plants that threaten EU’s long-term climate targets?
March 18, 2013
The Western Balkans countries are aspiring to become members of the European Union. At the same time, 6195 MW of new coal and lignite plants are planned to be built in the Western Balkans, which will still be operating by 2050 and threaten these countries’ ability to comply with EU long-term decarbonisation objectives. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is planning to support some of these power plants via its loans.
Coal power plants make you sick
March 7, 2013
A new report calculates the effects of coal-fired power generation across Europe on chronic lung disease and some heart conditions and the associated costs. It is another clue for both the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank to end support for coal as the two revise their energy policies.
EBRD enters Kosovo: Past IFI failures must be heeded
March 7, 2013
Kosovo has just celebrated the fifth anniversary of independence. In these five years, Kosovo has achieved membership of certain international financial institutions (IFIs): having already joined the IMF and the World Bank, on December 17 last year Kosovo became the 66th member of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Yet what can Kosovo’s citizens expect from EBRD membership?
Will the EBRD do the right thing for Kosovo, its newest member?
February 10, 2013
As Kosovo becomes a member of International Financial Institutions, such as the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, alarm bells are ringing about which model of development these bodies are pushing in the EU’s newest country.
Anti-coal campaign in Kosovo puts focus on health
February 4, 2013
A campaign against a new lignite power plant in Kosovo uses World Bank figures to highlight the health damage resulting from pollution.
Off on the wrong foot in Kosovo? A lignite power plant and the EBRD
January 25, 2013
Notwithstanding the dominance of lignite in Kosovo’s energy mix, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development may get involved with yet another lignite project in the Western Balkans.
The newest EBRD member, Kosovo, does not need new coal
December 22, 2012
Pristina – As Kosovo becomes the newest member of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development today, civil society groups in the country tell the bank that it should exclude from the start any investments in coal and that it could have an enormous positive impact by supporting energy efficiency measures.
EU’s Balkan Energy Strategy Queried
October 23, 2012
Western Balkan countries face a future that relies too much on coal and nuclear power, the Green watchdog Bankwatch says .
