Ukraine Reconstruction Campaigner
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Anna is Bankwatch’s Ukraine Reconstruction Campaigner, working on green reconstruction and environmental safeguards in Ukraine’s recovery. Her work focuses on alternative sources of energy for communities, energy resilience, and the alignment of Ukraine’s energy policy and public investment management system with EU standards. Originally from Kyiv, she holds an MSc in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Central European University and is based in Bratislava.
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Tbilisi Railway Bypass project – EBRD AGM Issue Paper
May 10, 2010 | Read more
On March 9, 2010, a loan for the Tbilisi Railway Bypass Project, initiated by the Georgian Railway company, was approved by the EBRD. The main goal of this project, rated category A by the EBRD, is to construct a new section of railway that bypasses the central part of Tbilisi in order to avoid the transit of hazardous freight (such as oil and oil products) through the middle of the city. While this main goal is welcomed, there are several strong concerns that undermine the project goals and may cause a serious threat to Tbilisis population.
In 2007 the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) provided a USD 90 million loan to the second largest supermarket operator in Ukraine – the Furshet Group – for the regional expansion of its chain in Ukraine and Moldova. The aim of a research commissioned by Bankwatch was to examine labour/gender conditions at supermarkets regarding employee rights and discrimination at work, resulting in recommendations how Furshet and the EBRD can improve the employees’ situation.
In December 2005 the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) approved a EUR 25.8 million loan for the Odessa High Voltage Grid Upgrade project for the state-owned company Ukrenergo. The project, that foresaw construction of a 124 kilometre long 330 kV transmission line between the Adjalyk and Usatove substations in the Odessa region and modernisation of the substations, was Ukrenergos first experience with the international financial institutions, and inaugurated a series of further such investments.
Although the Nabucco gas pipeline is still nothing more than an idea on the drawing board it has attracted unprecedented political support and managed to swallow millions of euros of EU taxpayer’s money without an assessment of its effect on transit and gas supplying countries. CEE Bankwatch network urges the EBRD to properly assess all impacts it may have on societies and the environment and to consider financing alternative ways to ensure energy security, namely by energy efficiency measures.
The removal and resettlement of the informal Gazela settlement from beneath the Gazela Bridge on highway Corridor X over the Sava River in Belgrade’s downtown took place in August 2009. Despite the involvement of international financial institutions (the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank) and foreign development agencies (the European Agency for Reconstruction and the UK Department for International Development), the resettlement has not brought satisfactory results.
