Publications

One of Bankwatch's main concerns with the EBRD's municipal and environmental infrastructure strategy is the bank's approach towards public-private partnerships, which one the one hand is more cautious than before. On the other hand however, while the bank's analysis recognises some of the drawbacks, it still too openly promotes them.

If implemented as currently planned, the road bypass of the town of Gabrovo, and the tunnel under the Shipka mountain - a project supported by EU funding - will harm a Natura 2000 zone and national biodiversity protected area. This briefing paper gives details on the project and calls on the European Commission to remind Bulgarian authorities of the need to allow for public participation and conduct an environmental assessment that takes alternatives into consideration.

Centerra Gold’s announcement that the February 2012 ice and waste fall into the Kumtor pit will result in a cutback in gold production indicates that the measures the company has put in place to address the causes of past pit wall failures have been ineffective since those measures were not effective at preventing Davidov ice and waste from falling into the open pit and causing the current production cutback.

In its letter, the independent union at the Kolubara mine points at extremely difficult and inhumane working conditions and their employer's reckless attitude toward employees. The union calls on the EBRD to not extend a loan to the Kolubara lignite mine before workers' rights are being respected.

These comments, prepared the Arab NGO Network for Development together with Bankwatch suggests improvements for the model of consultations between the EBRD and civil society organizations. It is particularly relevant in view of the upcoming civil society consultations in the southern and eastern Mediterranean as the EBRD prepares to extend its lending to the region.

While Lydian International is reporting on progress in its talks with the EBRD about an aquisition of company shares by the bank and on receiving project approval from the Armenian government, the EBRD has yet to publish project related documents in line with its public information policy.

While central and eastern European countries can use EU funds as a financial tool helping them to meet the requirements of European waste directives, the money is not spent in line with these directives. This case study explains why, focusing mainly on the waste hierarchy as one of the key principles of EU legislation.