Protests at pan-European motorway project as time runs out for key wildlife site
June 5, 2019
Dozens of activists from across Europe have protested and dropped a banner at an international road in Kresna gorge, Bulgaria, to protest against the lack of action from the European Commission and the Bulgarian government to save the key EU-protected wildlife site.
ARCHIVED: Kresna gorge / Struma motorway, Bulgaria
February 25, 2019
The Struma motorway is tragically emblematic of an EU-funded project that has wrought havoc on European biodiversity and the wishes of local communities. In spite of two decades of protest by civil society and citizens, part of the Struma motorway section is planned directly through the Kresna gorge, a Natura 2000 site and Bulgaria’s richest biodiversity hotspot.
New investigation in Kresna gorge reveals another major breach of law
February 15, 2019
An independent investigation by a Bulgarian TV channel bTV discovered progressing construction works in the Kresna gorge area even though the official procurement procedure is still ongoing.
Bulgaria, l’autostrada che divide
December 27, 2018
Un discusso progetto di collegamento tra Sofia e Salonicco, finanziato dall’Unione Europea, rischia di annientare in un sol colpo la più importante area protetta e uno dei maggiori siti archeologici del paese Source: Bulgaria, l’autostrada che divide
Eleventh hour for protected Kresna Gorge as Bulgaria presses on with destructive motorway
November 28, 2018
With construction advancing in Bulgaria’s Kresna gorge, discussion happening now at the Bern Convention in Strasbourg having taken on an increased sense of urgency.
Putting human rights first at the European Investment Bank. Upcoming opportunities
July 23, 2018
The nearly 1,000 kilometre route connecting Mombasa and Lake Victoria has always been of key importance for the development of Eastern Africa. The narrow, crowded car road is still the main artery of the region. By 2020, the Kenya National Highways Aut
First report from Parliament on next EU budget funding for energy and transport infrastructure shows more work to be done
July 23, 2018
On 19 July, two European Parliament Committees – on Industry, Research and Energy and Transport and Tourism – delivered their first draft report [1] outlining what they would like to see in the new Connecting Europe Facility, one part of the EU budget after 2020 that Bankwatch is monitoring because CEF provides funding for key pieces of energy and transportation infrastructure across the bloc.
Moscow – St. Petersburg motorway section 15-58 km: A deal involving tax havens and poor value for money
September 30, 2017
The first section of the Moscow – St. Petersburg motorway is best known for the conflict over its routing through Khimki Forest. The project is widely heralded as being the first public-private partnership (PPP) in the roads sector in Russia. Yet sur
Croatian motorways: Bina Istra and Zagreb-Macelj
September 30, 2017
The Bina Istra (Istrian Y motorway) and Zagreb-Macelj (Slovenian border) are the only two motorways constructed using PPPs in Croatia so far, with the Zagreb-Rijeka motorway being constructed by a concessionaire owned entirely by the Croatian governmen
M1/M15 and M5 motorways, Hungary
September 30, 2017
Some of the best-known examples of failed PPPs in CEE are the M1/M15 and M5 motorways in Hungary. These were among the rare cases when significant demand risk really was transferred to the private sector concessionaires, but as a result the M1/M15 ende
