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The recap on recapitalisation
November 11, 2011
 | by David Hoffman

As the eurozone crisis continues to unfold, lending from international financial institutions to the banking sector must be held to the task of supporting the most vulnerable - especially the SMEs in CEE - or it will continue to perform largely unsuccessful and unchecked as it has during the crisis to date.

financial intermediaries, financial markets, global loans, SMEs
EBRD, EIB, World Bank Group
Social & economic impacts
What's the real danger for Cohesion Policy: wrong accounting or wrong results?
November 10, 2011
 | by Przemek Kalinka

The proper financial management of EU funds is important to avoid fraud and illegitimate spending. Yet more important is the quality of the funded projects.

Cohesion Policy, EU, policy, transparency
EU Funds
Hydropower vs. nature in southeast Europe: EBRD complicity in environmental crime?
October 31, 2011
 | by Ana Colovic Lesoska

Why is it that when we advocate for something to the international financial institutions (IFIs) they often manage to give it a peculiar twist of their own?

biodiversity, hydro power
EBRD
Energy & climate, Other harmful projects
Haircuts for eurozone citizens? A closer look at the EFSF
October 27, 2011
 | by Roman Havlicek

The European Financial Stability Facility is a crucial element of eurozone leaders’ proposed solution to the debt crisis. But behind the shining EUR 1 trillion armour of the EFSF lurks an institution that could bring further mayhem as a closer look by Bankwatch’s alternative economics coordinator Roman Havlicek reveals.

EU, eurozone, financial markets, participation, transparency
Social & economic impacts
European Parliament makes a step towards putting the 'E' into EBRD
October 19, 2011
 | by Pippa Gallop

By requesting a number of changes at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Parliament has confirmed at least some of Bankwatch's criticism of the bank's mode of operation and (in a subtle way) also its overall approach.

accountability, financial intermediaries, global loans, policy, success, transparency
EBRD
Energy & climate, Social & economic impacts, Other harmful projects
A historic event, the European Investment Bank opens its doors (a bit)
October 12, 2011
 | by Anna Roggenbuck

Ahead of a meeting next week that offers a unique chance for discussion with the EIB's Board of Directors, Bankwatch's EIB team leader Anna Roggenbuck gives an overview over some of the issues to which she'd like to hear some comments by the bank's enigmatic leadership.

accountability, energy, energy security, financial intermediaries, fossil fuels, global loans, human rights, local benefits, participation, policy, SMEs, transparency
EIB
Did the glimmer of gold blind the EBRD?
October 11, 2011
 | by Anelia Stefanova

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has become a stakeholder in a company that is involved in gold mining in a UNESCO World Heritage site in Russia. Not only does this violate its own Environmental and Social Policy, but it also tells me a lot about the bank's assessment of partner companies.

biodiversity, corporations, extractive industries, mining
EBRD
Other harmful projects, Mining
Potocnik says green economy, European public banks say black coal
October 3, 2011
 | by Piotr Trzaskowski

The European Union's internal and external ambitions for green economies are being countered by the activities of European international financial institutions. EU Commissioner for the Environment Potocnik can see that also in his home country Slovenia.

energy, energy security, European Commission, fossil fuels
EBRD, EIB
Energy & climate
Right track, weak attitude. The EU's Resource Efficiency Roadmap.
September 22, 2011
 | by Marijan Galovic

The European Commission this week published its ideas on how to build a resource efficient economy in Europe. Bankwatch's resource efficiency expert Marijan Galovic thinks the roadmap's focus is not wide enough yet.

EU budget, European Commission, policy, PPP, waste incineration
EU Funds, EIB
Resource efficiency
Greenwashing nuclear expansion in Ukraine, with EU support
September 13, 2011
 | by Alena Miskun

Upgrades of hydro power plants in Ukraine are a prime example for greenwashing nuclear expansion with renewable energy. Alena Miskun from Bankwatch member group National Environmental Centre of Ukraine gives details on the thickening plot that European public banks are involved in.

energy, energy security, European Commission, hydro power, nuclear, transmission lines, transparency
EBRD, EIB, World Bank Group
Energy & climate

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