Home >> Publications

Publications

Please let us know if you can't find a document that should be here.

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

Search publications by

Another chip off the EBRD block - Kronospan expansion in Belarus
Bankwatch Mail | December 2, 2014

In October this year, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) approved an up to EUR 50 million loan to a Belarusian subsidiary of the Austrian company Kronospan for the expansion of a particleboard facility at Smorgon in the Grodno region of Belarus. Belarus will provide a guaranteed return on investment for both Kronospan and the EBRD. With the country’s rich wood resources, generous state tax incentives, weak legal environment, toothless trade unions, cheap labour and a generally stifled civil society, the EBRD and its client are not likely to run into the same environmental and legal difficulties experienced by Kronospan in other eastern European countries.

Another Polish road construction in Natura 2000 site, another David and Goliath fight to save protected nature
Bankwatch Mail | December 2, 2014

Road construction in Poland can be a cause for great controversy, particularly when incomprehensible road designs clash with nature.

Recommendations for the last state of programming of EU Regional Funds 2014-2020 for energy projects
Publication thumbnail
Study | November 25, 2014

Bankwatch and Polish Green Network analysed the final drafts of the Regional Operational Programmes of Poland's voivodeships. The report "Green energy for all" shows how ambitious (or not) the Polish regions are to invest in a low-carbon economy, in particularly when it comes to renewable energy and energy efficiency in residential buildings. It also contains six recommendations for Polish regions to make the most of the low-carbon potential of Regional Funds.

application/pdf iconDownload PDF
The Visegrad 4 and the Balkans working together for resource efficient development
Publication thumbnail
Study | November 24, 2014

In the last four years, Bankwatch has invested significant efforts in building the capacity of CSOs in the Western Balkans on various topics, particularly on the funding mechanism Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA). This compilation is intended to serve CSOs in IPA beneficiary countries and provide information about some good practices from Visegrad 4 coutries that can now be implemented in the Balkan region. It is our hope that it is found useful and worthy of distribution across the region.

application/pdf iconDownload PDF
Letter to EBRD: National ROads Programme in Macedonia
Advocacy letter | November 6, 2014
application/pdf iconDownload PDF
The Great Rush - The European Union's responsibility in natural resources grabbing
Publication thumbnail
Study | October 31, 2014

Land, forests, water and raw materials are valuable resources that increasingly interest the major players of the economy of our planet. This report collects 16 case studies from around the world in order to better understand the impacts of natural resource grabbing on the local communities, clarify the responsibilities of the European Union and, in conclusion, examine actions to be undertaken to invert this phenomenon.

application/pdf iconDownload PDF
The Boskov Most hydropower plant, Macedonia
Briefing | October 20, 2014

The Boskov Most hydropower plant includes an accumulation dam 33 metres in height and a power plant with a total capacity of 68MW, Around 80 per cent of the project falls within the territory of the Mavrovo national park, the largest and richest national park in Macedonia. Three years after the signing of a loan agreement over EUR 65 million from the EBRD, little progress has been made with the project. This briefing details several reasons why the project should not receive support from the EBRD.

application/pdf iconDownload PDF
Green 10 letter to European Parliament president Schulz regarding the appointments of new Commissioners
Advocacy letter | October 17, 2014

This Green 10 letter highlights some controversial aspects of Commission President-elect Juncker's new cabinet appointments, including the inclusion of sustainability within the competency of Commissioner Timmermans.

application/pdf iconDownload PDF
Poor quality of draft ESIA report for Part C and D of the 750 kV Rivne - Kyiv High Voltage Line Project
Advocacy letter | October 17, 2014

Letter to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 17 October 2014 - Download as pdf

Letter to the European Investment Bank, 31 October 2014 - Download as pdf

application/pdf iconDownload PDF
Green 10 letter to European Commission president-elect Juncker regarding the appointments of new Commissioners
Advocacy letter | October 16, 2014

This Green 10 letter highlights some controversial aspects of Commission President-elect Juncker's new cabinet appointments, including the inclusion of sustainability within the competency of Commissioner Timmermans.

application/pdf iconDownload PDF
Analysis of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Ugljevik 3 power plant
Briefing | October 6, 2014

This scientific analysis by NGO Center for Environment shows that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the planned Ugljevik III lignite power plant near Bjeljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina contains data on the plant's SO2, NOx and dust emissions which is demonstrably false. The EIA study is also missing key information needed to assess the plant's environmental impact.

application/pdf iconDownload PDF
Western Balkans: 'cheap' lignite plants built now will cost heavily later
Briefing | October 2, 2014

The Western Balkans countries are aspiring to become members of the European Union. At the same time, Western Balkans governments plan to build 6195 MW of new coal/lignite plants by 2020. But the energy infrastructure they build today will still be operating by 2050, therefore constituting a serious threat to these countries’ ability to comply with EU long-term decarbonisation objectives.

application/pdf iconDownload PDF
Investment priorities in the environment and climate change sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Briefing | October 2, 2014

The Bosnian NGO Center for Environment developed this position on the possibilities for investments in resource efficiency projects in the country.

application/pdf iconDownload PDF
Opportunities for resource efficiency investments in Serbia
Briefing | October 2, 2014

A position paper on the possibilities for investments in resource efficiency projects in Serbia by the Serbian Bankwatch member group Center for Ecology and Sustainable Development (CEKOR).

application/pdf iconDownload PDF
Extra caution needed for Plomin C coal power plant project due to heightened corruption risks
Briefing | October 2, 2014

The consortium that has been chosen as the preferred bidder for the controversial Plomin C 500 MW coal power plant project in Croatia consists of the two companies Marubeni and Alstom. Both have been involved in corruption scandals recently that led to sanctions from financing institutions. This briefing offers details on these cases.

application/pdf iconDownload PDF

Our quarterly

News, analyses and debates on
international development finance

Download as pdf
See list of contents
Older editions