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.
A flawed rollout: How the EBRD’s efforts to tackle harassment on Tbilisi public transport have fallen short
October 11, 2024
In an effort to tackle gender-based violence and harassment across Tbilisi’s public transport network, the EBRD has provided financial and technical support to Tbilisi Transport Company – the operator responsible for managing public transport services in the city – to help them set up a tracking system to address incidents on the city’s metro and bus routes.
Bishkek’s sustainable urban mobility development: A review of current policies and investments with recommendations for enhanced transformative impact (long version)
August 14, 2024
As Bishkek’s population grows, public transport in the Kyrgyz capital is clearly lagging far behind demand. A new research paper, produced in collaboration with our Kyrgyz partners Peshcom, maps the situation of sustainable urban mobility development in Bishkek.
CEE Bankwatch Network comments on the draft of the EBRD Infrastructure Sector Strategy
August 14, 2024
The EBRD’s draft strategy, published in the summer of 2024, shows improvements particularly in terms of good governance, inclusion, safety, affordability, accessibility of municipal and transport infrastructure and services. In our new comments, we argue that more needs to be done to decarbonise and promote circular economy principles and sustainable waste management.
Bishkek’s sustainable urban mobility development: A review of current policies and investments with recommendations for enhanced transformative impact
June 26, 2024
As Bishkek’s population grows, public transport in the Kyrgyz capital is clearly lagging far behind demand. A new research paper, produced in collaboration with our Kyrgyz partners Peshcom, maps the situation of sustainable urban mobility development in Bishkek.
Tbilisi’s transport policy conundrums: between resolution and resistance
August 21, 2023
The efforts of Tbilisi City Hall, responsible for transport reform, are anything but commendable. Criticism is also apt for the international financial institutions that have invested significantly in Tbilisi’s transport planning overhaul, and that are therefore responsible for monitoring its progress and impact.
Implementation of Yerevan’s Green City Action Plan
June 2, 2023
This report assesses the extent to which the actions, targets and objectives set out in Yerevan’s GCAP have been implemented and how this has affected the city’s environmental conditions.
The unexplained backtracking of the EBRD and Tbilisi City Hall: why did they keep the contract with a Russian company?
March 13, 2023
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing funding to Tbilisi City Hall to purchase metro cars for the Georgian capital’s metro system from a Russian company, Metrowagonmash. The company is part of Transmashholding, whose shareholders – Russian oligarchs Iskander Makhmudov and Andrey Bokarev – are closely linked with the Kremlin and its defence industry. Metrowagonmash’s sister company is also reportedly providing engines for Russian warships.
EBRD funds channelled to Kremlin affiliates: Why the purchase of Tbilisi metro cars from a Russian company should not proceed as planned
March 13, 2023
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is providing funding to Tbilisi City Hall to purchase metro cars for the Georgian capital’s metro system from Russian company Metrowagonmash. But Metrowagonmash is not just any Russian company.
