Second confirmatory application for disclosure of EIB documents related to Volkswagen loans

Following the revelations around Volkswagen cheating emission tests, Bankwatch requested information from the European Investment Bank about its loans to the car maker. After delays, incomplete disclosure, and a frist confirmatory application, the bank released on December 18, 2015 redacted finance contracts between the EIB and VW as well as redacted completion reports provided by VW to the EIB at the closure of each project. (See all documents here.)

Bankwatch responded with a second confirmatory application (pdf). In our view, the EIB redacted information in these documents that would not undermine the protection of the VW Group's commercial interests or its intellectual property rights, but that relates to environmental information that whose disclosure is in the public interest, namely the level of emissions from engines and vehicles whose production was supported by the EIB loans.