Arab civil society and international groups against diverting the revolutions’ economic and social justice goals through conditionalities imposed by international financial institutions
June 20, 2011
Briefing: The EBRD and the Serbian coal sector
June 20, 2011
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and German development Bank KfW are considering supporting the development of a new field in the lignite open pit mine in the Kolubara mining complex in Serbia. Interestingly, the investment is categorised as “Environmental Improvement” on the EBRD’s website. But no matter how efficient future processing is, investments into perpetuating lignite production – the dirtiest of fossil fuels – instead of clean electricity generation alternatives rather resembles re-arranging the deck-chairs on the Titanic than serious ‘environmental improvement’.
Letter reiterating Vinci’s failure to respect Global Compact commitments on human rights
June 20, 2011
Bankwatch and the Movement to Defend Khimki Forest wrote to the Global Compact on 28th March 2011 regarding Vinci’s non-compliance with its Global Compact Commitments in relation to the first section of the Moscow – St. Petersburg motorway project. Our letter subsequently formed the basis of an enquiry to Vinci by the Business and Human Rights and Human Resource Centre, to which Vinci responded on 26th April 2011. Having carefully reviewed Vinci’s response, we still believe that the company is not in compliance with its Global Compact commitments.
EBRD Draft Public Information Policy – comments
May 31, 2011
The revised Public Information Policy (PIP) of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) adopts only few of the NGOs’ proposals submitted during the first stage of commenting, therefore missing the opportunity to improve the draft. We insist that the detailed comments submitted in January should be further considered by the EBRD before drafting its final PIP. These comments concentrate on several priority issues, in addition to those submitted in January.
Recommendations for the EBRD’s Public Information Policy based on comparative analysis of IFC and other disclosure policies
May 30, 2011
The current draft of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s public information policy lacks several provisions and innovations which should be considered the latest best practice in information disclosure in multilateral development banks.
Are we nearly there yet? Dilemmas of transition after 20 years of EBRD’s operations
May 20, 2011
As the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development celebrates twenty years of market and democracy promotion in central and eastern Europe, Bankwatch evaluates the institution’s activities since its inception and concludes the bank needs to move swiftly and genuinely towards prioritizing social justice and lowering carbon intensity of economies, if it wants to bring real benefits to the region.
Bankwatch Mail 48
May 19, 2011
On the occasion of the EBRD’s 20th anniversary, Bankwatch Mail is complemented by a range of personal reflections from people both within and beyond central and eastern Europe, people who have worked directly on issues related to the EBRD, or who have studied the bank’s impacts.
Vlora Thermo Power Plant, Albania – where is the electricity?
May 15, 2011
The oil and gas-fired thermo-power plant in Vlora, Albania – in a tourism-dependent city and only 100 metres from the protected Narta lagoon – was financed by the EBRD, the European Investment Bank and the World Bank. After a slew of problems, including lack of proper public consultation, the plant is not actually working – two years after it was supposed to have been completed – and it is increasingly doubtful whether it will start to produce electricity any time soon.
Ukrainian transmission lines – a vehicle for dirty electricity to the EU
May 15, 2011
The EBRD is and has been involved in a number of high voltage electricity transmission lines in Ukraine that eventually would lay the technical groundwork to export nuclear and coal-based electricity to the EU. In the Ukrainian electricity transmission field, the EBRD should focus its efforts on utilising the massive potential to increase the reliability and efficiency of Ukraine’s energy system through the modernisation of existing grid, especially low-voltage local grid below 110kV where power losses now are two times higher than average in the EU.
Are safety upgrades and lifetime extensions synonyms in the Ukrainian nuclear sector?
May 15, 2011
In November 2010 the EBRD, together with the European Union, announced its involvement in the EUR 1.2 billion Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) safety upgrade project for Ukraine. While safety upgrades at first appear a positive initiative, this project makes sense only in the context of NPP lifetime extensions, otherwise there is no reason to finance costly upgrades for facilities that will anyway close in a couple of years. And though the project promoter clearly links these safety upgrades with lifetime extensions, the EBRD is reticent to do so.
