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.
Kolubara mine “mired in crime and corruption”
March 7, 2013
At a press conference in January, Serbia’s energy minister Zorana Mihajlović spoke out strongly against the Kolubara mining complex, describing it as being “mired in crime and corruption” while also announcing that a thorough investigation is ongoing into corrupt practices by the Kolubara management. Bankwatch believes that this latest confirmed scandal at Kolubara should be giving the EBRD serious pause for reflection as it considers yet another loan to the Serbian electricity company EPS, heavily implicated in these latest revelations.
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.
A mostly accommodating lion’s den – the second civil society meeting with the EIB Board of Directors
February 8, 2013
A meeting of civil society and the European Investment Bank’s Board of Directors saw a surprising degree of agreement between two often adverse groups.
Small shareholders protest price cap on lignite from Šoštanj’s mine
February 6, 2013
With the dubious economics of the Šoštanj 6 lignite power plant depending partly on keeping the price of lignite low, small shareholders who would have to forego their profits are not thrilled at the prospect.
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.
Members of European Parliament call on EIB not to finance Slovene lignite power plant
January 31, 2013
In an unambiguous letter Members of the European Parliament have reminded the European Investment Bank of the economic and environmental risks that the Šoštanj lignite power plant project poses for Europe and Slovenia.
Kolubara “mired in crime and corruption”
January 30, 2013
Those were the words of Serbian Energy Minister Zorana Mihajlović, speaking last week in a press conference during which she announced that a thorough investigation is ongoing into corrupt practices by the management of the Kolubara mining complex.
MEPs call on EIB not to disburse funds to Sostanj lignite power plant
January 30, 2013
This letter from Claude Turmes (Greens), Alojz Peterle (EPP) and Kathleen van Brempt (S&D) calls upon the European Investment Bank’s President Werner Hoyer to withhold the disbursement of EIB funds for the Šoštanj lignite power plant project in Slovenia due to ongoing corruption investigations and the project’s questionable economic viability.
