Publish What You Pay: ‘Lukoil loan would fundamentally contradict EBRD policies’
July 21, 2015
The Board of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a coalition of companies, governments, investors and civil society organisations has unanimously downgraded Azerbaijan to a “candidate country”. Azerbaijan will be suspended from the EITI in April 2016 if it does not comply with a set of requirements that ensure civil society can work freely in the country.
Sport for Rights to EBRD: No public money for Lukoil and mega gas project in Azerbaijan
July 20, 2015
On Wednesday 22 July the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will decide whether it will arrange a loan of up to $ 500 million to Russia’s Lukoil for the Shah Deniz II offshore gas project in Azerbaijan. Together with the campaigners of Sport for Rights and sixteen other NGOs, Bankwatch has written a letter to the EBRD’s president and its directors. We urge them to reject the project because Azerbaijan fails the EBRD’s basic requirements which include human rights, multi-party democracy, rule of law and pluralism.
CSOs key points for the forthcoming EIB climate policy
July 16, 2015
In this letter to EIB, civil society organisations point out that the EIB’s forthcoming climate policy cannot only be limited to repackaging previous climate commitments or solely focusing on technical incremental changes. In the framework of the new EU 2030 climate and energy targets and the forthcoming international climate conference in Paris, ambitious new policy commitments are indispensable to make the EIB credible.
Financing Partnership: supporting partners in monitoring and implementation of EU funds from Technical Assistance
July 13, 2015
This paper addresses the challenges faced by civil sociey organisations in building and maintaining their capacities for fully contributing to monitoring and the implementation of ESIF 2014 – 2020. As exemplified by best practices from Poland and Slovakia, Techncial Assistance can indeed support civil society partners’ comprehensive involvement in the policy cycle. However, financial support for partners is more an exemption than a common practice in the CEE region.
Letter by Members of the European Parliament to the EBRD and Euratom regarding the Nuclear Power Plant Safety Upgrade Programme
July 1, 2015
The request is made in the context of Ukraine’s obligations under the Espoo convention, such that the EBRD and EuroAtom should “take steps for suspending the loan proceedings until a full trans-boundary EIA process for nuclear units lifetime extension is launched and carried out in accordance with international treaties to which Ukraine is a party.”
Bankwatch input for review of European Neighbourhood Policy
June 30, 2015
Preliminary comments on the Nenskra Environmental Impact Assessment and its consultation process
June 25, 2015
Following an on-site visit in the Upper Svaneti region in Georgia, these comments find substantial weaknesses in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Nenskra hydropower plant, in particular with regards to the engagement and consultation of local communities. See also the comments on the final Nenskra EIA report.
Follow-up letter: Stakeholders Workshop on public consultation results of 2nd PCI proposed lists
June 23, 2015
European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI): Smart, sustainable and inclusive growth – recommendations for the Delegated Act establishing a scoreboard of indicators
June 21, 2015
Sustainability of European Structural and Investment Funds: Implementation principles and case studies on projects selection criteria for energy, environment and resource use
June 19, 2015
European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) represent significant investments in the EU’s physical infrastructure and the development of human potential, helping to increase the continent’s economic, social and territorial cohesion, including the environmental integrity of its natural environment. This briefing gives an overview of the legal background and the guiding principles for applying project selection criteria during the implementation phase of EU funds, illustrated by a number of case studies and examples from different countries.