Bankwatch Mail

On the occasion of the EBRD's 20th anniversary, Bankwatch Mail is complemented by a range of personal reflections from people both within and beyond central and eastern Europe, people who have worked directly on issues related to the EBRD, or who have studied the bank's impacts.

In this issue: A sustainable EU budget – it's time to cut the crap * Khimki forest reprieve brings no cessation of underhand tactics * EU funds flows for smart flood prevention can save billions and lives * Rip it up and almost start again – New EU funds priorities for Hungary * EU funds for Latvia's environment up in smoke * Conference - The private sector turn: Private equity, financial intermediaries and what they mean for development (November 22, London) * EBRD financial sector strategy revision reveals few lessons learned from crisis * Energy and transport failings in the east – a challe

In this issue: EBRD own goal on coal will under-mine clean energy ambitions * Croatia: land of sun, sea and contradictory strategies * Sustainable energy mischief in Ukraine * Mining’s winners and losers on show in new film * Hopes and more fears in Central Asia * More sustainable development pipedreams? BTC shows how not to do Nabucco * Post-conflict aid to Georgia: mission accomplished or fait accompli?

In this issue: Disclosure policy review - A glass of information half full or half empty? * Bank 'panglosses' over the facts with new Georgian partnership strategy * EBRD, EIB culpable of policy violations in resettling Belgrade Roma * Heat rising on international public lenders to come clean for the climate * ČEZ chez the EIB – It's invite only to the black masque energy security fundraiser * IMF's pro-cyclical brakes pile on the misery across central and eastern Europe * The silence of the scams no more

In this issue: Nabucco spells energy securitisation not security * Crisis puts the EBRD back in the same old business * EBRD complaint mechanism gets a personality * EBRD drawing more power lines in Ukraine’s unsustainable energy sands * An end to energy efficiency excuses in Ukraine * Flagship PPP road project to be built with state money * ArcelorMittal – Going nowhere slowly * Hopeless in Gazela * New Gazela documentary * More dirty energy development for Albania * Smoke on Georgian water privatisation * Faster, smarter but more destructive crisis money for CEE?

In this issue: A fossil free EIB requires political will * South east Europe's leaders to cling to carbon during COP 14 * Counting down to Copenhagen – counting on public money to do more for climate-friendly investments * No more excuses for IFI heel-dragging on renewables in emerging markets * EBRD carbon factor: Readers decide * Many cooks stirring Albania's carbon soup * Looking beyond nuke bickering in the Baltics * EU-Ukraine energy cooperation needs a rethink * World Bank is accomplishing mission impossible in CEE, says the Bank * PPP's perils and pitfalls make it no panacea – new Bankw

In this issue: Why is the EBRD tacitly backing Ukraine's nuke-centric, inefficient energy plans? * Football and PPPs do not mix * Renewables continue to get a rough ride in Georgia * Other transitions are out there – but not as the EBRD knows it * Wake up and smell ArcelorMittal - global case studies reveal who picks up the tab for steel giant * PIP squeaks again: no end in sight to info disclosure constipation at the EBRD