Publications

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…

Civil society organizations from Central Asia submitted their recommendations on the EU’s new Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI). The organisations call for a structured, open and transparent decision-making process involving local civil society representatives through…

The project is a plan to construct a sixth unit at the Sostanj lignite-fired power plant in Slovenia. It has received significant backing from European public banks adding up to more than 50% of the overall costs of the investment. Doubts about the economic viability of the…

Linked to a slew of controversies, the Kolubara lignite mining project in Serbia is in line for support from European public banks. Corruption allegations, pollution at local level, irregularities in resettlement of local populations and not to forget a climate damaging appr…

The proposed Khudoni hydro power plant poses the risk of an ecological disaster in one of the most amazing highland regions of Georgia. Additionally, the economic justification of the project is doubtful because the contract with the completely unknown, offshore Virgin Islan…

The study shows how targeted public financial support for energy efficiency, mainly thermal insulation of buildings, helped create jobs and increase economic activity across the Czech Republic.

More information on the project is available here.

The letter notifies the EBRD of two complaints filed against the Sostanj lignite thermal power plant unit 6 project and calls on the EBRD to also undertake a thorough review of its involvement in the project, as it seems that when approving the project, some relevant facts w…