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.
Funding Europe’s Future: How Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 can deliver for Europe’s people and environment
October 24, 2011
The European Commission’s Cohesion Policy regulations fail to earmark sufficient money for green spending in areas such as energy efficiency of buildings, sustainable transport, nature protection or waste management. Next year, the European Council and European Parliament can amend the regulation texts for the better. Our detailed recommendations for EU regional funds 2014-2020 can help them in their task by outlining which types of spending need to be excluded and which encouraged in order to tackle climate change, stop biodiversity loss and reverse resource-overconsumption while modernising our economies.
Story of an artists. Leaflet against EU support for the Sostanj lignite power plant in Slovenia
October 19, 2011
Upset by Slovenia’s plans to build a huge lignite power plant unit in Sostanj, Slovenian artist Marko Kumer-Murc and Slovene environmentalists from Focus brought their protest to Brussels. The leaflet tells Marko’s story and offers a quick round-up of Sostanj and other coal power plants that are supported by international financial institutions.
Letter to EBRD: Don’t support gold exploration in UNESCO site in Russia
October 5, 2011
In August 2011, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced that it was acquiring a stake in GV Gold, one of Russia’s top gold producers, stressing the company’s willingness to meet the Bank’s environmental and social requirements. A GV Gold subsidiary, however, carries out prospecting and plans to mine gold on a territory that is located in its entirety in a UNESCO World Natural Heritage property.
Complaint to European Commission: Inadequate assessment of CCS readiness for Sostanj lignite power plant project
October 3, 2011
Download the complaint as pdf
