democracy

Azerbaijan suspended from the EITI – a Bankwatch and Counter Balance statement

March 9, 2017

A decision to suspend Azerbaijan’s membership in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) adopted yesterday (Mar 9) is the latest reminder for international financial institutes to avoid supporting the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) project.

Institution: EBRD, EIB

Theme: Energy & climate

Tags: democracy, EITI, fossil fuels, human rights, EU neighbourhood

Here be dragons: How the EU bank's development finance overlooks people at risk

The European Investment Bank’s failure in safeguarding the most vulnerable groups in its projects shows it is ill-equipped to help refugees and host communities in the European Union’s neighbourhood. A new report explains the bank’s weaknesses in identifying and responding to human rights risks.

Tags: civil society democracy development human rights overseas investments participation refugees safeguards transparency EU neighbourhood Global South

Institution: EIB

Theme: Social & economic impacts, Development

Going abroad - a critique of the European Investment Bank's External Lending Mandate

Study | November 18, 2016

This report analyses how and if the European Investment Bank (EIB) is fulfilling its development role under the so-called External Lending Mandate (ELM) for the period 2014-2020. It sheds light on the more questionable quality and effectiveness of EIB operations and on the neglected areas of the bank’s performance outside Europe, such as transparency and access to information practices, its attitude towardstax evasion and tax dodging, human rights due diligence.

Institution: EIB

Theme: Social & economic impacts, Development

The EU bank's dubious overseas development experience shows it cannot be a key player in Europe's response to the plight of refugees - report

November 18, 2016

The EIB is increasingly given a prominent role in the EU’s response to the so-called refugee crisis stretching the bank’s operations well beyond its current mandate for overseas investments. Yet, a new report by Counter Balance and CEE Bankwatch Network takes a closer look at projects the EU’s house bank has been financing outside Europe to find a dismal track record on a range of issues from transparency to human rights. This, the report authors say, should serve as a warning sign for the European Parliament and Council as they consider boosting the bank’s mandate.

Institution: EIB

Theme: Social & economic impacts, Development

Tags: democracy, development, freedom of speech, human rights, refugees, transparency, EU neighbourhood, Global South

European development bank raises $391m through debut equity fund

September 21, 2016

Source: Emma Rumney, Public Finance International

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has raised €350m ($391m) in the first round of fundraising for its debut Equity Participation Fund.

The fund aims to attract long term institutional capital into the private sector of those countries where the EBRD works. It allows large institutional investors to take 20-30% of the interest in all of the EBRD’s eligible investments above €10m ($11m) during a five-year period.

Institution: EBRD

Tags: democracy, human rights, Global South

For European development bank democracy is an afterthought

Almost one in four euros lent by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in 2015 went to authoriatrian countries. The bank has clearly decided to ignore its own mandate, or else it would have to considerably shrink its business.

Tags: democracy repression transition CEE EU neighbourhood

Institution: EBRD

Theme: Social & economic impacts, Development

Lost in transition: Far-reaching changes needed as European bank marks 25 years

April 11, 2016

On April 15, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will be marking its 25th anniversary. Reflecting on two decades of monitoring the EBRD's policies and projects, a new report from CEE Bankwatch Network raises concerns about a growing gap between the bank's operations and its mandate.

Institution: EBRD

Theme: Energy & climate, Social & economic impacts, Other harmful projects

Tags: democracy, EBRD, human rights, local communities, transition, Caucasus, Central Asia, EU neighbourhood, Southern Mediterranean

Lost in transition - 25 years of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Study | April 11, 2016

This report examines a selection of cases monitored by CEE Bankwatch Network and its partners in recent years and highlights some of the weaknesses observed in the EBRD’s approach to environmental, social, democracy and development issues.

On 15 April 2016 the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will mark its 25th anniversary. This opportunity should kick-start a debate about what the London-based public bank has achieved since it started operations in 1991 and to reflect on its future.

Ukraine needs European values and Europe's solidarity

Ahead of a referendum in the Netherlands on the association agreement between the European Union and Ukraine, Olexi Pasyuk from the National Ecological Centre of Ukraine discusses the agreement’s importance for Ukraine’s civil society and why Europe must still improve how it engages with the country.

Tags: association agreement civil society democracy EU Euromaidan nuclear safety Ukraine CEE EU EU neighbourhood

Institution: EBRD

Theme: Energy & climate, Social & economic impacts

Guest post: Walking the line

Plans for the Southern Gas Corridor / Euro-Caspian Mega Pipeline will solidify the west's dependence on fossil fuels and authoritarian regimes. A new web documentary shows why we should stop and think.

Tags: democracy Euro-Caspian Mega Pipeline human rights Ilham Aliyev Khadija Ismayilova Puglia Southern Gas Corridor web documentary Caucasus EU EU neighbourhood