News and Updates

The Bratislava bypass - a public-private partnership to get around traffic problems and debt statistics

December 19, 2016
Publication

In this report, Bankwatch and Counter Balance trace the murky story of the Bratislava bypass, a EUR 1.76 billion project supported by the Slovak government and promoted as the biggest project in central eastern Europe that was guaranteed through the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI).

Transport
Social & economic impacts
Bratislava, EU, motorway, PPP, transparency
EFSI case study: Bratislava bypass: A transport public-private partnership with high costs and limited benefits

June 8, 2016
Publication

The so-called European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) should unlock additional investment of at least EUR 315 billion over a three year period (2015-2017). One of the projects benefiting from the financing concerns the design, construction, operation and maintenance of about 27km of a motorway around Bratislava. The project will come with high costs, will damage biodiversity and likely not solve local transport problems.

Transport
Other harmful projects
CEE, EFSI, EU, investEU, PPP, public-private partnerships
Six arrested in suspected corruption around EBRD-financed Zagreb wastewater PPP

March 29, 2016
Blog entry

The Zagreb wastewater plant public-private partnership (PPP), financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), has for years been highlighted by Bankwatch and its member group Zelena akcija/Friends of the Earth Croatia as a harmful project allowing the private sector enormous profits at the expense of the City of Zagreb and the public.

Social & economic impacts
arrest, Balkans, corruption, CUPOVZ, EU, investigation, Marina Matulović Dropulić, Milan Bandic, PPP, public-private partnerships, wastewater, Zagreb
United Nations report highlights risks and failures of public-private partnerships

March 14, 2016
Blog entry

A United Nations study finds that public-private partnerships involve substantial risks for the public sector and have often failed to yield ‘value for money’.

Social & economic impacts
accountability, financial risk, PPP, public-private partnerships, UN/DESA, United Nations
How to improve disclosure in World Bank public-private partnership projects?

January 19, 2016
Blog entry

The World Bank is currently inviting comments for its consultation on disclosure in public-private partnership projects. Deadline for inputs 29th February 2016.

Social & economic impacts
budget, consultation, PPP, public debt, toolkit
Guest post: Throwing evidence to the wind? The World Bank continues pushing PPPs

September 30, 2015
Blog entry

Although World Bank research and documents acknowledge the limitations of public-private partnerships the bank continues to push PPPs despite concerns.

Social & economic impacts
Global South, PPP, public debt, public-private partnerships, World Bank
Zagreb Mayor arrested - and not before time

October 20, 2014
Blog entry

Something quite amazing happened yesterday evening in Zagreb. The Croatian police and the State Prosecutor announced that several people had been arrested on suspicion of a number of criminal corruption offences, abuse of office and peddling influence. Among the arrested were Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic, Head of Zagreb Holding municipal company Slobodan Ljubicic, the head of the ZET public transport company Ivan Tolic, head and part-owner of the CIOS metal recycling company Petar Pripuza and around 15 more un-named people.

Social & economic impacts
Balkans, corruption, mayor, Milan Bandic, PPP, wastewater, Zagreb
PPPs a threat to national security, says Czech national security service BIS

November 21, 2013
Blog entry

The complicated nature, hidden future debts and other characteristics of public-private partnerships have led the Czech Republic's national security service to consider them a potential threat to public interests.

Social & economic impacts
costs, Czech Republic, EU, EU neighbourhood, national budgets, PPP, public debt, public interest, public-private partnerships, security
PPPs "poor in practice" admits new EBRD-financed study

July 22, 2013
Blog entry

Despite collecting impressive evidence from 20 years of failed public-private partnerships in central and eastern Europe, an EBRD-financed study by the Economist Intelligence Unit concludes to continue using the controversial financing scheme.

Transport
Social & economic impacts
Balkans, CEE, Croatia, D1, Hungary, PPP, public-private partnerships, study, Zagreb Arena
Guest post: Development banks and the Arab Spring, new report takes stock

May 6, 2013
Blog entry

A new report takes a critical look at the engagement of European development banks in Egypt after the popular uprisings in the Middle East and North African region. This article appeared originally on the Counter Balance blog and has been shortened and slightly edited.

Social & economic impacts
Arab Sping, dictatorships, Egypt, employment, EU neighbourhood, human rights, PPP, public-private partnerships, Southern Mediterranean

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