Comments on the EBRD's Municipal and Environmental Infrastructure Strategy

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.

Considering the controversy around private sector participation in MEI, particularly in water supply, the strategy needs to include more critical analysis of its impact. At the moment the document tends to analyse what works for the EBRD in these fields, not what works for ordinary people and public budgets.