Official complaint to EBRD: Ombla hydropower project, Croatia
November 17, 2011
More information on the project is available here.
Letter to EBRD re complaints against Sostanj power plant project
November 16, 2011
The letter notifies the EBRD of two complaints filed against the Sostanj lignite thermal power plant unit 6 project and calls on the EBRD to also undertake a thorough review of its involvement in the project, as it seems that when approving the project, some relevant facts were omitted by the bank.
Enhancing transparency, the partnership principle and public participation in the future Cohesion Policy
November 15, 2011
The partnership principle, public participation and transparency are interlinked and basic democratic principles, essential to good governance and sustainable development. They are necessary for Cohesion Policy to ensure that needs and priorities of the people in Europe are effectively taken into account. We believe improvement is needed to implement these values in the EU funds cycle, specifically with regards to the implementation and development of the European Code of Conduct.
The reality behind EU “energy security” the case of Nigeria
November 9, 2011
The report examines the environmental and social devastation caused by European oil multinationals Eni, Total and Shell in Nigeria and suggests a major rethink of the European Union’s so-called ‘energy security strategy’. More materials Eni misled shareholders over gas flaring in Nigeria at the PLATFORM Blog
Complaint to EBRD: Boskov Most hydropower project, Macedonia
November 7, 2011
The Boskov Most hydropower plant would be built within the Mavrovo National Park in Croatia right where the very rare Balkan lynx lives. This official complaint to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development argues against a loan for the project (to be decided on November 8, 2011) because of the expected negative impacts on biodiversity and the inadequate environmental assessment so far. More information on the Bankwatch blog.
Questionable transition impact of the Ombla and Boskov Most hydropower plants
November 4, 2011
The EBRD has a specific mandate to promote transition to a market economy and to ensure environmental sustainability in all its operations. Additionally to the unacceptable environmental impacts of the hydropower plant projects Ombla (Croatia) and Boskov Most (Macedonia), both projects do not comply with the EBRD’s mission. We believe the bank should not support them.
Complaint to European Commission: Public procurement procedure for the Sostanj lignite power plant
November 2, 2011
Comments and proposals on the EBRD’s project level transition indicators
November 1, 2011
As pointed out in our publication Are We Nearly There Yet? Dilemmas of Transition After 20 Years of the EBRD’s Operations (pdf), environmental and social sustainability has not been as strong a focus for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as it should be. How the EBRD measures it’s success can be seen as one part of the explanation. It’s transition indicators – also at project level – are therefore an important aspect when assessing the bank’s performance.
Letter to EBRD: Concerns regarding the Boskov Most Hydro Power Plant, Macedonia
October 28, 2011
A coalition of more than 30 Macedonian and international NGOs are calling on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) not to finance the Boskov Most hydro power plant in north-western Macedonia. The project would seriously damage Mavrovo national park, the largest in the country and a potential Natura 2000 site.
Open letter requesting EBRD to withdraw from the Ombla hydroelectric plant project
October 26, 2011
The Ombla hydropower plant is planned to be built in a cave in Croatia that is part of a proposed Natura 2000 site, but the environmental, economic and social impacts have only insufficiently been assessed by the project promoters. More than 30 Croatian and international civil society organisations therefore urged the EBRD to not approve a loan for the project.
