The letter criticises the environmental assessment of the Nuclear power plants safety upgrade programme (SUP) in Ukraine. It concludes that the assessment insufficient and does not fully elaborate the objectives and consequences of the SUP.

Bankwatch, Slovenian NGO Focus and Environmental Legal Service (CZ) ask the EBRD's Project Complaint Mechanism to undertake a compliance review of whether the bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy 2008 in relation to two aspects of the Sostanj lignite thermal power plant:
(a) Claims by the EBRD that the project in question is "CCS ready" and
(b) the EBRD's assessment of whether Slovenia can fulfil its obligations in meeting long-term EU climate goals if it undertakes the project.

The European Investment Bank responded to the study Carbon Rising: European Investment Bank energy lending 2007-2010 in which Bankwatch analysed the energy lending by the EIB since the institution launched its energy policy in 2007.

Bankwatch's rejoinder to the EIB's letter can also be downloaded as pdf.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Euroatom plan to support the nuclear power plant safety upgrade project in Ukraine. The EU presents the project as a timely initiative to improve nuclear safety in the region. A closer inspection however shows that it in fact can increase nuclear risks, in that the project includes a significant number of measures necessary to extend the lifetime of the reactors.

The loan agreement between Ukraine and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the Rivne-Kyiv High Voltage Line project (connected to the controversial "Second Backbone Corridor") included significant parts of the project that were not assessed in the obligatory environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) prior to project approval.

The Coalition for a sustainable EU Budget advocates that a number of amendments to the Commission legislative proposal concerning the next Cohesion Policy funds should be supported by the European Parliament and Council if the next EU regional funds are to play any significant role in the transition towards a low-carbon, sustainable European economy.

The complaint, filed with the European Investment Bank by Environmental Law Service (CZ) and Focus Association for Sustainable Development (SI), outlines controversies in relation to the Sostanj lignite thermal power plant with regards to the following aspects:

1. insubstantial allegation that the project is „carbon capture ready“ and that the assessment submitted by the operator fulfils the criteria set up by the relevant EU Directive,
2. failure to comply with the relevant EU directive for public procurements,
3. questionable economic viability of the project.