Publications

This briefing summarises the main findings of our report Carbon Rising: European Investment Bank energy lending 2007-2010.

The study analyses energy lending by the EIB, the world’s largest public bank, since the institution launched its energy policy in 2007. While lending to renewables has increased in the period 2007-2010, support for fossil fuels has also risen, almost doubling from 2.8 billi…

This toolkit (available in different languages) was prepared by Bankwatch partner and member groups to help civil society organisations from the Western Balkan region better understand the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA) and to learn about EU experiences in programming of…

Cohesion Policy plays an important role in steering local economies towards sustainability. Green investments however still remain limited in the Commission’s proposal for a reformed Cohesion Policy – a missed opportunity as it stands now. This NGO briefing suggest solutions…

The graphs in this briefing illustrate the EBRD’s energy lending 2006-2010. Investments in renewable energy were at least 6 times higher in the EU New Member States than in eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union. Although all EBRD countries of operation need such investm…

The European Commission has set the goal of becoming a resource-efficient, renewables-based economy by 2050. This means a near-total decarbonisation of the EU energy sector is needed by 2050, as well as that of the industry and residential sectors. If the EBRD’s Sustainable…

During a meeting with civil society organisations in October 2011 the EIB announced it would begin a revision of its energy lending policy in 2012 and solicit public input. This briefing gives a brief overview over the process and the necessary changes in the bank’s energy p…

Also available on our website are detailed Comments on the European Neighbourhood Policy and the forthcoming European Neighborhood Instrument.

The primary goal of the EU’s neighbourhood policy should be based on an insistence on increased democracy in EU neighbourhood countries. This should happen through public participation in decision-making processes, the establishment of good governance and sustainable develop…

Bankwatch Mail 50 contains a range of European development finance issues with a particular focus on EU Funds as we publish on the day of our Green investments to the rescue conference in Brussels.

Four investment plans have been produced for the Sostanj lignite fired power plant in Slovenia with many differences in calculations and outcomes. This review of the latest investment plan illustrates a number of shortcomings including both methodological mistakes and unsubs…

In recent years, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has paid increased attention to sustainable energy issues, enegry efficiency in particular. At the same time, the bank’s Sustainable Energy Initiative (SEI) criteria need to be strengthened in line with cl…