EBRD tightens standards in response to Balkan hydropower boom
May 16, 2019
As a result of public resistance to small-scale hydropower projects in the Balkans, from the beginning of 2020, the EBRD will ask commercial banks to refer all high-risk projects – including all hydropower plants – for additional checks. The EBRD also requires them to meet higher environmental standards than previously. The bank will ask that such projects are disclosed to the public on the financial intermediary’s website, finally increasing disclosure on these hitherto hidden projects.
Nenskra hydropower project: May 2019 update
May 14, 2019
Given the complexity of the Nenskra project and its immense impact on indigenous Svan communities and the country’s fiscal stability, the EBRD should take responsibility and not provide financial support until the project is properly assessed. Read mor
Five reasons why EBRD should pull out of the controversial Nenskra hydropower project
May 8, 2019
As the realisation of the project keeps dragging on, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the EBRD, and all international financial institutions involved, to justify their engagement.
Boskov most hydropower plant, North Macedonia
April 19, 2019
Boskov Most was one of 18 hydropower greenfield projects planned by the North Macedonian government in the Mavrovo National Park. After five years of campaigning, we convinced the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development about the folly of this project and to cancel its EUR 65 million loan. Without its major source of funding, the project lost steam and was discontinued.
CSO letter to the EBRD on the revision of the Good Governance policies related to Financial Intermediaries (FIs)
March 13, 2019
The undersigned CSOs welcome this opportunity to submit comments on the EBRD’s revision of its environmental and Social Policy, Access to Information Policy and Project Accountability Policy relating to financial intermediary lending. As it was documen
Milestone bank summit in Belgrade a step towards protecting Balkan rivers, but greater transparency still needed
March 1, 2019
For immediate release. Belgrade – The ‘Save the Blue Heart of Europe’ campaign [1] gave a cautious welcome to a first-of-its-kind summit between the financial sector and green activists, where a roundtable about the role of banks in the destruction of Balkan rivers by hydropower dams was centre stage.
Macedonian hydropower complaint highlights EBRD’s enduring opacity
February 11, 2019
After almost a year of struggling to get basic environmental information from the EBRD about the Krapska hydropower project, Bankwatch has submitted an official complaint [1] to the bank’s Secretary General. As we run the same administrative circles over and over again, another precious river valley has been irreversibly damaged.
Die Frauen von der Brücke
December 28, 2018
Auf dem Balkan boomt der Bau von Wasserkraftwerken, doch die Nachhaltigkeit der Projekte ist umstritten. Frauen im Dorf Kruščica besetzen eine Brücke und blockieren so die Interessen internationaler Konzerne. Source: Die Frauen von der Brücke
Meštani Rakite: Nećemo genocid nad prirodom
December 21, 2018
Meštani Rakite: Nećemo genocid nad prirodomRetko kada je jedan, na izgled, lokalni problem uzdignut na nacionalni nivo, kao što je to slučaj sa izgradnjom mini- hidroelektrana u najvećem parku prirode Stara planina. Zasluga za to je u aktivizmu lokalno
Shuakhevi Compliance Review
December 12, 2018
In view of the considerable public resources invested in the Shuakhevi HPP project and in view of the negative impacts on local people’s safety and livelihoods, as well on local resources needed for sustainable development of the Adjara region and Geor
