Publications

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For more information on our publications, please contact our research co-ordinator Pippa Gallop

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Ukraine nuclear lifetime extensions require impact assessment in compliance with Aarhus and Espoo convention

Advocacy letter | August 18, 2015

On several occasions the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development stated that operations of its clients should comply with all international treaties and other legal obligations. In spite of these reassurances, Energoatom in Ukraine keeps ignoring its international obligations, as outlined in the Espoo Convention, in the processes of assessing the life-time extension of its nuclear reactors.

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Letter to European Commission: Reconsider disbursement of loans for Ukraine nuclear project

Advocacy letter | August 10, 2015

In this letter, Bankwatch asks the European Commission to reconsider the disbursement of the Euratom and EBRD loans for the Ukraine nuclear safety upgrade programme that effectively enables the lifetime extensions at Ukraine's nuclear reactors. The letter provides evidence for the intertwined character of the upgrade programme and the lifetime extensions and for Ukraine's refusal to meet its obligations under international conventions.

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Letter to European Commission (DG ECFIN): Ukraine does not meet obligations under international law

Advocacy letter | August 10, 2015

The European Commission stated in an earlier letter that any decision by Ukraine to extend the life-span of any of its nuclear power plants will require assessment under the Aarhus and Espoo Conventions. In this letter, Bankwatch offers evidence for how Ukraine is indeed extending the lifetimes of its nuclear reactors but not meeting its obligations under the conventions.

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Publish What You Pay: 'Lukoil loan would fundamentally contradict EBRD policies'

Advocacy letter | July 21, 2015

The Board of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a coalition of companies, governments, investors and civil society organisations has unanimously downgraded Azerbaijan to a "candidate country". Azerbaijan will be suspended from the EITI in April 2016 if it does not comply with a set of requirements that ensure civil society can work freely in the country.

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Sport for Rights to EBRD: No public money for Lukoil and mega gas project in Azerbaijan

Advocacy letter | July 20, 2015

On Wednesday 22 July the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will decide whether it will arrange a loan of up to $ 500 million to Russia’s Lukoil for the Shah Deniz II offshore gas project in Azerbaijan.

Together with the campaigners of Sport for Rights and sixteen other NGOs, Bankwatch has written a letter to the EBRD’s president and its directors. We urge them to reject the project because Azerbaijan fails the EBRD’s basic requirements which include human rights, multi-party democracy, rule of law and pluralism.

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CSOs key points for the forthcoming EIB climate policy

Advocacy letter | July 16, 2015

In this letter to EIB, civil society organisations point out that the EIB's forthcoming climate policy cannot only be limited to repackaging previous climate commitments or solely focusing on technical incremental changes. In the framework of the new EU 2030 climate and energy targets and the forthcoming international climate conference in Paris, ambitious new policy commitments are indispensable to make the EIB credible.

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Financing Partnership: supporting partners in monitoring and implementation of EU funds from Technical Assistance

Briefing | July 13, 2015

This paper addresses the challenges faced by civil sociey organisations in building and maintaining their capacities for fully contributing to monitoring and the
implementation of ESIF 2014 - 2020.

As exemplified by best practices from Poland and Slovakia, Techncial Assistance can indeed support civil society partners' comprehensive involvement in the policy cycle. However, financial support for partners is more an exemption than a common practice in the CEE region.

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Letter by Members of the European Parliament to the EBRD and Euratom regarding the Nuclear Power Plant Safety Upgrade Programme

Advocacy letter | July 1, 2015

The request is made in the context of Ukraine's obligations under the Espoo convention, such that the EBRD and EuroAtom should "take steps for suspending the loan proceedings until a full trans-boundary EIA process for nuclear units lifetime extension is launched and carried out in accordance with international treaties to which Ukraine is a party."

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Bankwatch input for review of European Neighbourhood Policy

Policy comments | June 30, 2015

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Preliminary comments on the Nenskra Environmental Impact Assessment and its consultation process

Policy comments | June 25, 2015

Following an on-site visit in the Upper Svaneti region in Georgia, these comments find substantial weaknesses in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Nenskra hydropower plant, in particular with regards to the engagement and consultation of local communities.

See also the comments on the final Nenskra EIA report.

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Follow-up letter: Stakeholders Workshop on public consultation results of 2nd PCI proposed lists

Advocacy letter | June 23, 2015

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European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI): Smart, sustainable and inclusive growth - recommendations for the Delegated Act establishing a scoreboard of indicators

Briefing | June 21, 2015

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Sustainability of European Structural and Investment Funds: Implementation principles and case studies on projects selection criteria for energy, environment and resource use

Briefing | June 19, 2015

European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) represent significant investments in the EU’s physical infrastructure and the development of human potential, helping to increase the continent's economic, social and territorial cohesion, including the environmental integrity of its natural environment.

This briefing gives an overview of the legal background and the guiding principles for applying project selection criteria during the implementation phase of EU funds, illustrated by a number of case studies and examples from different countries.

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Possible coal and energy State aid cases in Energy Community countries based on publicly accessible information

Briefing | June 8, 2015

By signing the Energy Community Treaty in 2005, countries in the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova agreed to abide by the European Union's competition rules. But a number of energy sector investments are being planned that may not so far have taken adequate account of state aid rules. This briefing includes case studies of projects from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, and Ukraine.

See related materials including a more detail briefing, a press release and a slideshow at:

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Risks for coal and electricity investments in the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova due to state-aid rules

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Study | June 8, 2015

By signing the Energy Community Treaty in 2005, countries in the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova agreed that the European Union's competition rules are to be applied also within their territory. A number of energy sector investments are being planned that may not so far have taken adequate account of State aid rules. This briefing therefore provides a summary to draw attention to relevant requirements of EU law and highlight the risks of failure to take them into account when planning investments. The account when planning investments.

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