Opportunities and expectations towards the EIB climate policy review
July 24, 2014
After effectively phasing out lending to lignite and coal-fired power plants in its energy policy in 2013, the EIB is now reviewing its climate policy. This joint NGO letter expresses the expectations towards the EIB to align its lending further with climate science and the EU Roadmap 2050 by proposing a genuine strategy for the bank to phase out funding for projects that are detrimental to the climate and to mainstream climate considerations into each and every sector of operations the Bank is engaged in.
Expert proposals for Energy Community improvements are a promising step forward
June 18, 2014
South and eastern European member countries of the Energy Community may soon have to be much more ambitious about environmental standards in the energy sector. This is because the Energy Community, the body that aims to create a common energy market between the EU and some of its neighbours, may be about to introduce more of the EU environmental acquis into its Treaty.
Heavy on the process – EBRD review of governance policies may disappoint many
May 14, 2014
The EBRD’s board of directors is expected, on the eve of the bank’s annual meeting in Warsaw, to approve new ‘good governance’ policies that will have significant bearing on the institution’s future activities. The EBRD’s Environmental and Social Policy, its Public Information Policy and the Rules of Procedure for the EBRD Project Complaints Mechanism have been the feature of multi-stakeholder consultations across the EBRD’s regions of operation in 2013 and into 2014.
The good, the bad and the uncertain: the new energy policies of Europe’s public banks
March 20, 2014
The European NGO coalition Counter Balance has recently published a short overview of the new energy policies now in place at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). Both banks’ new policies were finalised towards the end of 2013 following extensive consultation with stakeholders from the energy sector, civil society and academia.
Comments on Project Complaint Mechanism Draft Rules of Procedure
March 6, 2014
The EBRD’s Project Complaint Mechanism’s Rules of Procedure (PCM) are part of the bank’s good governance policies which are all being revised in the beginning of 2014. In addition to these comments on the PCM here, Bankwatch has prepared comments to the good governance policies (pdf) in general separately.
Comments on the EBRD’s good governance policies drafts
March 6, 2014
The EBRD’s good governance policies include the Environmental and Social Policy (ESP), the Public Information Policy (PIP) and the Project Complaint Mechanism’s Rules of Procedure (PCM). Bankwatch has also submitted separate comments on the draft Rules of Procedure for the PCM.
NGO comments on the EBRD’s Project Complaint Mechanism Draft Rules of Procedure
March 6, 2014
This comment letter, signed by 16 civil society organisations, focuses on the provisions that directly affect complainants’ access to the PCM. Specifically, our concerns relate to the Draft Rules of Procedure registration and eligibility criteria, and provisions regarding complainant participation at various stages of the PCM process.
Lessons from Kolubara for the EBRD Environmental and Social Policy
March 4, 2014
The EBRD loan for the Kolubara lignite mine project in Serbia was approved when the forced removal of the local graveyard of the Vreoci community was already initiated and in spite of protests and appeals to the EBRD and in spite of on-going corruption investigations of the company. This case offers important lessons learned for the Environmental and Social Policy of the EBRD with regards to human rights.
Aarhus and Espoo Conventions in the EBRD’s Draft Environmental and Social Policy (Bankwatch statement)
February 27, 2014
The EBRD’s current Environmental and Social Policy requires the bank to act in accordance with principles of international law on access to environmental information and participation in decision-making on issues that may have negative transboundary impacts on the environment. The new draft policy, however, transfers responsibility for meeting these commitments from the EBRD to the client.
In Albania, oil’s history casts long shadows over locals
February 21, 2014
The findings of a visit to the EBRD sponsored Patos Marinza oil field in Albania show how local development and investments in resource extraction often do not go hand in hand. The case provides valuable lessons for the revision of the EBRD’s safeguard policies.
