Letter to EBRD: Kolubara loan connected to resettlement and impacts on communities
March 30, 2012
In its letter to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Bankwatch member group CEKOR discusses issues related to the Kolubara lignite mining project that have not yet been clarified. Among them is the fact that the EBRD’s loan is indeed connected to the resettlement of the Vreoci community, something which the EBRD has denied so far, and the so far vague claim that the project will contribute to emission reductions and environmental improvements.
Letter to EBRD regarding the Amulsar Gold project in Armenia
March 30, 2012
While Lydian International is reporting on progress in its talks with the EBRD about an aquisition of company shares by the bank and on receiving project approval from the Armenian government, the EBRD has yet to publish project related documents in line with its public information policy.
Impasse: How EU money is being used against EU waste policy
March 28, 2012
While central and eastern European countries can use EU funds as a financial tool helping them to meet the requirements of European waste directives, the money is not spent in line with these directives. This case study explains why, focusing mainly on the waste hierarchy as one of the key principles of EU legislation.
Suggestions for reforms the new EBRD president could undertake
March 27, 2012
With the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in the process of selecting a new president, Bankwatch calls on the bank’s shareholders and new president to reassess some of its past – faulty – approaches.
The Instrument for Pre-Accession – Analysis of regulations past and present and proposals for amendments
March 26, 2012
The briefing analyses the old Regulation on the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA) (2007-2013) and compares it with the new proposal (2014-2020), with a specific focus on environmental protection and transparency/partnership principle. Since the regulation is not strong enough in neither of these two areas, we provide amendments to the regulation’s articles. The briefing is a useful tool for advocating for better environmental protection and improvement of the public participation in decision making in the Western Balkan countries.
Citizen’s request to deny state guarantee for Sostanj lignite power plant loan
March 26, 2012
The director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies is of Slovenian origin. He sent an open letter to the Slovenian parliament requesting to deny the state guarantee for a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for Unit 6 at the Sostanj lignite thermal power plant.
Letter to EBRD: request to clarify conflicting information on mining projects in Mongolia
March 23, 2012
Following a fact-finding mission to Mongolia in June 2011, CEE Bankwatch sent a letter on August 18, 2011 with several questions for clarification to the EBRD. Additionally OT Watch submitted a paper on November 1, 2011 to representatives of the EBRD Board of Directors during their visit to Mongolia. While the EBRD replied to both of these, several issues still need clarification, as there is conflicting information.
Letter to EBRD and EIB: Will a loan to ENEA free up assets for a coal fired power plant in Poland?
March 22, 2012
The EBRD and the EIB are considering a loan of up to PLN 800 million to the Polish electricity utility ENEA to support a PLN 3.2 billion investment programme of the company’s distribution network. Bankwatch’s letter enquires what conditions will be placed on an EBRD loan to ENEA to make sure that the loan does not free the company’s assets that it needs to invest in the Kozienice coal-fired unit number 11 in Poland. A similar letter was sent to both the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (pdf) and the European Investment Bank (pdf).
Enhancing the partnership principle and transparency in the future Cohesion Policy
March 15, 2012
The European Commission’s proposed European Code of Conduct has the potential to become a major tool for securing effective partnership, transparency and public participation under the Cohesion Policy. This briefing contains recommendations to further support and realise this potential.
Cohesion Policy 2014-2020: Green investments to deliver sustainable prosperity and jobs
March 14, 2012
This briefing outlines a number of aspects that – if improved – would enhance the European Commission’s proposal on the future EU budget and maximize benefits for the regions delivered by the future Cohesion Policy while contributing to reach the 2020 climate, energy and biodiversity targets and creating green jobs.
