Submission to European Court of Justice: Request to release documents on European Commission decision on Euratom loan for Ukraine
June 16, 2016
Earlier in 2016, Bankwatch approached the European Commission’s Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs, and made a request for documents related to the EUR 300 million Euratom loan for Ukraine’s nuclear safety upgrade programme. Specifically, we asked for the evidence used by the Commission in making the first EUR 100 million disbursement from the loan.
The European Investment Bank and its energy sector lending 2013-2015
June 14, 2016
This analysis of the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) energy lending shows that the bank has been effectively hindering Europe’s energy transition. Most notably, during 2013-2015, EIB lending to renewables in Europe has dropped whereas its lending to fossil fuels has modestly but consistently increased. Moreover, while EU leaders have repeatedly emphasised the ‘energy efficiency first’ principle, the EIB has been lagging behind with only 3.6% of its lending across sectors going to energy conservation projects.
Household survey in Drmno shows negative impacts of Kostolac B3 project, Drmno mine
June 13, 2016
This sociological survey included 162 (or 65.9%) of the registered 246 households in Drmno, Serbia. It illustrates the bleak reality in the village where a large majority of households have health problems, cracks in houses and other negative impacts from the nearby lignite power plant and mine. The document is only available in Serbian. See also Bankwatch member CEKOR’s website [sr] for information on the survey.
EFSI case study: Bratislava bypass: A transport public-private partnership with high costs and limited benefits
June 8, 2016
The so-called European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) should unlock additional investment of at least EUR 315 billion over a three year period (2015-2017). One of the projects benefiting from the financing concerns the design, construction, operation and maintenance of about 27km of a motorway around Bratislava. The project will come with high costs, will damage biodiversity and likely not solve local transport problems.
Response to statements regarding CEKOR in the Serbian media
June 7, 2016
CEKOR, as a non-governmental watchdog organisation, has since 1999 strived to promote sustainable development in Serbia and has a strong track record in supporting local communities harmed by development projects to advocate for their rights.
EFSI case study: Energy efficiency in residential buildings in France: Energy Performance Contracting to boost investments
June 6, 2016
The so-called European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) should unlock additional investment of at least EUR 315 billion over a three year period (2015-2017). One of the projects benefiting from the EU financing is a program that aims to promote energy efficiency in the housing stock through the funding of certain regional/local initiatives supporting energy renovation of private residential buildings in France.
Western Balkans countries invest at least 2.4 times as much in coal as in wind power
May 26, 2016
All the Western Balkans countries have committed to increase their share of renewable energy by 2020 to reach between 25 and 40 percent of their energy mix, as part of their obligations under the Energy Community Treaty. Yet this is far from obvious when examining their investment plans for new power generation capacity. Governments are actively planning to build 2800 MW of new coal plants with construction cost of at least EUR 4.5 billion. In contrast, these countries are only planning to build around 1166 MW of wind power plants, at an estimated cost of EUR 1.89 billion.
The European Investment Bank and climate action 2013-2015
May 23, 2016
The European Investment Bank’s lending for climate action between 2013 and 2015 shows that further structural changes are needed to align the bank’s portfolio with the objectives of the Paris agreement.
Ohrid – Peshtani expressway project, Macedonia
May 11, 2016
The Ohrid-Peshtani expressway project – financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development via a EUR 160 million loan for the National Roads Programme – involves the construction of a new section on the A3 express to the Albanian border. The new 12.5 kilometre section is planned to pass through the Galicica national park – a rare and important natural site with abundant biodiversity, that was listed as an emerald site (a future Natura 2000 site) and was designated in 2014 part of UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
The problems with industrial chicken producer MHP’s expansion in Ukraine
May 11, 2016
MHP is at the centre of concern for local communities and civil society organisations in Ukraine, because of the way the company engages stakeholders, acquires land, and impacts the environment, water and the local economic development. Since 2010 the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved three loans for MHP, totalling USD 205 million. Whether or not the company is in compliance with Ukrainian law, local people think they are not adequately protected and do not have an equal voice against a large corporation if it decides to begin construction.
