Aarhus and Espoo Conventions in the EBRD's Draft Environmental and Social Policy (Bankwatch statement)

The EBRD's current Environmental and Social Policy requires the bank to act in accordance with principles of international law on access to environmental information and participation in decision-making on issues that may have negative transboundary impacts on the environment. The new draft policy, however, transfers responsibility for meeting these commitments from the EBRD to the client.

This statement was submitted to the 17th Working Group of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention at the Thematic Session on promotion of the principles of the Convention in International Forums, 27th February 2014.