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Ido Liven
e-mail: ido.liven@bankwatch.org
Tel.: +48 22 892 00 86
skype: ido.bwn

 

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Sostanj lignite plant: A mistake not to be repeated
December 2, 2014

Ljubljana -- A new briefing by Slovenian NGO Focus shows how misguided assessments of future viability and corruption led to TES6 lignite unit costing more than double the estimated amount, bringing annual losses of tens of millions of euros, and creating only a fraction of the number of jobs promised.

Juncker investment package shifts risk from private investors to EU taxpayers
November 26, 2014

Brussels – Today European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker will present his widely anticipated 300 billion euro investment package aimed at stimulating growth in the European economy. Central to the InvestEU programme is a 21 billion euro allocation for the newly-created Euopean Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI) that has to leverage 315 billion euro from private investors, or 15 times the amount of the fund.

European Ombudsman: EIB weakens EU efforts to strengthen rule of law
October 30, 2014

Brussels – In an unprecedented ruling this week, the European Ombudsman concluded at the end of an investigation into the EIB’s involvement with a road construction project in Bosnia and Herzegovina that the institution’s behaviour was "totally unacceptable" and it "risked putting into question the EU’s commitment for strengthening the rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina."

Visegrad countries push for more gas imports in 2030 deal
October 22, 2014

Prague – The Visegrad plus 2 countries (Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, together with Romania and Bulgaria) have all included a strong statement of support for the Southern Gas Corridor into their comments to the drafted EU 2030 Council conclusions to begin in Brussels this Thursday.

Slovenia coal fraud charges serve as warning for other Balkan countries, say NGOs
October 15, 2014

Ljubljana, Slovenia: Slovenian police yesterday reported that ten people had been charged with fraud in relation to the beleaguered Sostanj 6 lignite power plant project, causing a suspected EUR 284 million in financial harm to Slovene electricity consumers. The charges serve as a new warning to decision-makers across the Western Balkans to closely scrutinise coal power plant projects planned across the region if the mistakes made in the Sostanj 6 project in Slovenia are not to be repeated, warned several NGOs today.

Green 10: the Parliament must reject this Commission
October 8, 2014

Brussels - The Green 10, the alliance of leading environmental NGOs in Europe, reiterates the call to reject the Commission unless rigorous changes of mandates, job titles and re-allocation of posts are made.

European Banks are most opaque multilateral organisations, 2014 Aid Transparency Index
October 8, 2014

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) are ranked 16th and 17th respectively out of 17 multilateral organisations on the 2014 Aid Transparency Index (ATI) which is published today. The transparency index comes at a momentous time for the EIB as the institution is currently reviewing its transparency policy and NGOs fear that the ‘EU bank’ is preparing to further downgrade its transparency requirements.

Environmental Impact Assessment for new Bosnia-Herzegovina coal plant contains false information, reveals expert analysis
October 6, 2014

Bijeljina, R. Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 6.10.2014: The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the planned Ugljevik III lignite power plant near Bijeljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina contains data on the plant's SO2, NOx and dust emissions which is demonstrably false, and the study is missing key information needed to assess the plant's environmental impact, according to a new analysis submitted by NGO Center for Environment to the responsible Ministry today.

Marubeni and Alstom's corruption records cast new doubts on Croatian coal project, warns new analysis
October 2, 2014

Zagreb -- Japan's Marubeni Corporation and France's Alstom - who have together been chosen as the preferred bidding consortium for the Plomin C* coal power plant project in Croatia – have a poor integrity record including several convictions for corruption offences which should raise alarm bells and increase vigilance among the Croatian public and potential financiers of the project, according to a new paper by CEE Bankwatch Network, published today.

Visegrad countries pose fresh threat to 2030 targets
October 1, 2014

Brussels – The group of four Visegrad countries (Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia) plus Romania and Bulgaria declared yesterday their readiness to block EU 2030 binding renewables and energy efficiency targets which are to be agreed upon at a European Council Oct. 23-24. Yet cracks are appearing in the group.