Gender impacts of the Nenskra hydropower plant, Georgia
October 31, 2016
Based on the analysis of the project documentation, independent media reports, surveys and discussions with local civil society revealed that the Nenskra project represents the perfect example of a gender blind project, where the project sponsor fails
Letter to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative board on the working conditions of civil society in Azerbaijan
October 20, 2016
In light of the upcoming review of Azerbaijan’s status in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), 18 international civil society organisations call on the EITI Board to suspend Azerbaijan from participation in the EITI, due to continuous breach of the initiative’s requirements for fostering an enabling environment for civil society.
The partnership principle and public participation in neighbouring countries: experiences with the European Neighbourhood Regulation
October 11, 2016
This paper highlights the deficiencies of the partnership principle and public participation within the European Neighbourhood Policy, in terms of addressing the political and cultural situation in the region. The paper provides recommendations for improvement during the midterm review of the European Neighbourhood Instrument and the proposal from the Commission proposal for a legislative framework for the new EU budget 2021-2027. The paper is based on the experience of CEE Bankwatch Network and its partners between 2012 and 2016.
The best laid plans – Why the Investment Plan for Europe does not drive the sustainable energy transition
September 28, 2016
This report analyses projects approved by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) in its first year of operation. The fund should catalyse €315 billion in new investment, and play an important role in the fight against climate change. However, as the analysis finds, during the EFSI’s first year an additional €1.5 billion was earmarked for fossil fuel infrastructure, and 68% of transport investment is destined for carbon-intensive projects.
Dirty Precious Metals: Dumping European Toxic Waste in Tsumeb, Namibia
August 10, 2016
Based on a visit to Namibia this report assesses the environmental and social standards at the Tsumeb smelter, acquired by Canadian Dundee Precious Metals in 2010. The smelter specialises in working with some of the dirtiest copper concentrates half of
‘We have no other option’ – Preparation of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline in Albania
August 4, 2016
The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the most western part of the Southern Gas Corridor, a pipeline project to bring gas from Azerbaijan to Europe is promoted by the European Commission as a strategic asset for Europe’s energy security. A July visit to over 30 Albanian villages revealed the high level of dissatisfaction and confusion for people impacted by the construction of TAP.
Ukraine’s nuclear programme and the Espoo Convention – letter to the Convention’s Implementation Committee
August 1, 2016
Espoo bodies sent several specific recommendations concerning its non-compliance with the Espoo Convention to Ukraine. Nonetheless Ukraine seems to be either ignoring those or taking insufficient steps towards compliance. Therefore Bankwatch summarises the state-of-play in this letter and asks the Implementation Committee to consider a number of steps to ensure the Convention’s requirements are properly met by Ukraine.
Balkan energy projects with Chinese involvement – state of play
July 31, 2016
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Romania all plan new lignite power plants during the next few years. In contrast, most EU countries are giving up building new coal plants and seven EU states are already coal-free. Since the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank have virtually halted lending for new coal power plants, most of them are due to be financed by Chinese state banks – ExIm Bank and the China Development Bank.
The economics of Pljevlja II coal plant – smoke, mirrors and EU law derogations
July 11, 2016
Decoupling economic growth from energy consumption in Romania
July 6, 2016
The report tackles the common assumption that continued economic growth necessarily entails a rise in energy consumption. The analysis shows that this is not what happens in reality, in Romania and in other EU countries. The Romanian energy ministry acknowledges that since 2009 the country’s GDP has been growing while energy consumption has been falling, but it has so far failed to factor this trajectory in the ongoing development of a new national energy strategy.
