EIB–EBRD mutual reliance: A threat to environmental and social accountability
July 14, 2025
In April, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed a Mutual Reliance and Cooperation Agreement, founding their future cooperation on jointly financed projects. Yet concerns have already emerged about potential risks to environmental and social safeguards as well as accountability under the new partnership.
The EBRD’s first Impact Report: A welcome step, but does it tell the whole story?
July 10, 2025
In May 2025, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) released its first-ever Impact Report. With EUR 16.6 billion invested in 584 projects in 2024, the report highlights ambitious claims: reductions in emissions, boosts to human capital, and support for inclusive economies. But as we dig deeper, a familiar issue re-emerges: the gap between institutional ambition and on-the-ground reality.
The EBRD starts its impact reporting journey: How can it deliver meaningful results?
July 7, 2025
In May 2025, the EBRD published its first-ever Impact Report, showcasing the impact of EUR 16.6 billion invested across 584 projects on real-world change. Although shifting the focus from activities to impacts is important, the report falls short in several key areas.
COMMENT: Amid shrinking civic space, will the EBRD still uphold its democratic mandate?
June 6, 2025
As the EBRD expands its operations into new regions, including sub-Saharan Africa and Iraq, will it stay true to its founding mission, and place democracy and civic participation at the heart of its approach?
The role of stakeholder engagement in the EBRD’s impact monitoring and reporting
May 30, 2025
This report examines the EBRD’s policies and practices related to stakeholder engagement and its monitoring and reporting at the project, country, and institutional levels. It identifies gaps in transparency at the project level, consultations on country strategies, and institutional reporting.
Rethinking urban mobility: Why green vehicles are no fix for broken transport systems
May 26, 2025
The EBRD’s new Infrastructure Sector Strategy represents a significant step towards sustainable urban transport investments. However, it remains to be seen whether the implementation of the strategy will strike the much-needed balance between infrastructure investments and policy actions.
GET greener: Strengthening the EBRD’s Green Economy Transition approach
May 26, 2025
The EBRD’s review of its GET approach should help to build an increased consensus on what investments can be considered ‘green’. This issue paper presents the key points from our extensive comments submitted to the EBRD in early April 2025.
District heating projects financed by the EBRD in Ukraine
May 14, 2025
This briefing examines EBRD-financed district heating projects in Western Ukraine, particularly in Ternopil and Lutsk.
Beyond mainstreaming: Advancing gender impact in the EBRD’s new Gender and Inclusion Strategy
May 14, 2025
This issue paper presents three case studies from which the Bank could learn while revising its gender and inclusion strategy.
Why the EBRD must end support for primary forest biomass in the Western Balkans
May 7, 2025
This issue paper presents case studies from Bosnia and Herzegovina that highlight how EBRD-backed large-scale biomass projects have faced significant challenges related to sustainability, affordability, and fuel supply.
