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
INSTITUTIONS WE MONITOR
OUR PROJECTS
Export Credit Agencies (ECAs)
Totalling many billions of dollars, the volume of ECAs financing far outpaces that of development banks and yet avoids the same public scrutiny. A great portion of their financing goes into large industrial infrastructure projects that are often known
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Boskov most hydropower plant, North Macedonia
Boskov Most was one of 18 hydropower greenfield projects planned by the North Macedonian government in the Mavrovo National Park. After five years of campaigning, we convinced the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development about the folly of this project and to cancel its EUR 65 million loan. Without its major source of funding, the project lost steam and was discontinued.
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Kresna gorge / Struma motorway, Bulgaria
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.
Read morePublications
Comments on the EBRD draft Accountability Policy
Policy comments | 27 March, 2019 | Download PDFThe draft Accountability Policy of the EBRD proposes a substantial and welcomed restructuring of the mechanism and improves on many of the issues of independence and predictability that hindered the PCM. However, the draft Policy does not yet rectify a
Comments on the EBRD draft Access to Information policy
Policy comments | 27 March, 2019 | Download PDFFulfilling the right of access to information is the beginning and foundation of true development that respects the rights of all people. Access to information goes hand-in-hand with meaningful consultation and stakeholder engagement to ensure that pro
Comments on the EBRD draft Environmental and Social Policy
Policy comments | 27 March, 2019 | Download PDFWe welcome the proposed improvements in the EBRD draft Environmental and Social Policy, including the stronger language on human rights, gender and vulnerable groups, as well as the reintroduction of the referral list for financial intermediary high ri
Review of eight national energy and climate plans (NECPs) in central and eastern Europe
Briefing | 22 March, 2019 | Download PDFWeb-version of the briefing Our analysis shows that most countries in central and eastern Europe are not committed to an ambitious energy transformation and instead stay as close as possible to business as usual scenarios. Moreover, the development of
CSO letter to the EBRD on the revision of the Good Governance policies related to Financial Intermediaries (FIs)
Advocacy letter | 13 March, 2019 | Download PDFThe undersigned CSOs welcome this opportunity to submit comments on the EBRD’s revision of its environmental and Social Policy, Access to Information Policy and Project Accountability Policy relating to financial intermediary lending. As it was documen
