From a grassroots to the international level …
We investigate the impacts of public finance, work with affected communities and local organisations across the world and help them protect their rights and livelihoods. We make sure their stories are being told in Europe’s power centers.
We regularly meet representatives of the institutions we monitor and we’re in Brussels, too, doing our bit to make Europe a fairer, cleaner and sustainable place.
Alternative news
We expose the risks of international public finance and bring critical updates from the ground.
We believe that the billions of public money should work for people and the environment.
FOCUS AREAS
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Nenskra hydropower plant, Georgia
The Nenskra dam is the most advanced of Georgia’s massive plans for hydropower installations in the Upper Svaneti region. It will deprive the local community, ethnic Svans, of lands and livelihoods, but potential negative impacts have not been properly assessed.
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European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI)
Tasked with stimulating the European economy, the new investment fund may just become an extention of the European Investment Bank’s normal lending with very limited additional (green) finance.
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Volkswagen’s emissions scandal and the EU’s bank
With the spotlight bright on Volkswagen for cheating in emission tests, the EU’s house bank must now come forward and show exactly what it has done to ensure proper oversight over its loans to the company.
Read morePublications
Comments on the draft EBRD Agribusiness Sector Strategy
Policy comments | 12 September, 2018 | https://bankwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Comments-on-the-draft-EBRD-Agribusiness-Sector-Strategy.pdf">Download PDFThese comments focus on the sustainability of EBRD investments, the need for better governance in the sector (both corporate and institutional), on issues that the draft Strategy is missing and needs to include or define better. While the draft inclu …
Energy doublethink: contradictions at the EU bank in combatting climate change
Study | 11 September, 2018 | https://bankwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/EIB-energy-policy-review-FULL.pdf">Download PDFThis year the European Investment Bank is expected to review its 2013 ‘Screening and Assessment Criteria for Energy Projects’, also known as its Energy Lending Criteria, which governs the types of projects the bank can finance in the energy sector. The …
Comments on the EBRD’s draft Country Strategy for Uzbekistan
Policy comments | 22 August, 2018 | https://bankwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/UZ-draft-country-strategy-BWcomments-Aug18.pdf">Download PDFWe call on the EBRD to outline in the Uzbekistan Country Strategy a new strategic approach or a comprehensive plan for supporting Uzbekistan’s ambitious reform path in the areas of Good governance and protection of rights and freedoms of citizens. The …
Putting human rights first at the European Investment Bank. Upcoming opportunities
Briefing | 23 July, 2018 | https://bankwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/BRIEFING-JULY-2018-BWN-CB-PGN-EIB-and-Human-Rights.pdf">Download PDFThe 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 …
Environmental problems of Shuakhevi Hydro Power Plant, Adjara, Georgia
Briefing | 23 July, 2018 | https://bankwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Report_Shuakhevi_HPP_environmental_problems.pdf">Download PDFThe 184 MW Shuakhevi Hydro Power Plant is under construction on the Adjaristsqali river and two of its main tributaries in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, Georgia. The design envisages it as a run-of-the-river plant with capacity of diurnal storage …
