Comments
[Comments EU/IFI policies] Report from visit to new Roma settlements in Belgrade, 11.02.2010
(February 11, 2010)
During a recent CEKOR fact finding mission 3 settlements were visitedMakis in Cukarica municipality, Kijevo in Rakovica municipality, and Varos in Mladenovac municipality. The report summarises the still problematic situation in the new settlements and offers specific recommendations related to leaking and sinking containers, electricity, health care and ID documents, employment and more.
[Comments EU/IFI policies] Bankwatch comments on the European Commission's Communication on PPPs
(January 26, 2010)
As part of our work on preventing the harmful impacts of international development finance in central and eastern Europe (CEE), Bankwatch is concerned that public-private partnerships in infrastructure are being heavily promoted in CEE even though the evidence from the use of such models so far, both in the region is mixed or sometimes absent.
Bankwatch therefore comments on the EC’s Communication on Mobilising private and public investments for recovery and long-term structural change: Developing public private partnerships from a CEE perspective (available here) and asks the EC to take this into account when carrying out its follow-up work.
Bankwatch therefore comments on the EC’s Communication on Mobilising private and public investments for recovery and long-term structural change: Developing public private partnerships from a CEE perspective (available here) and asks the EC to take this into account when carrying out its follow-up work.
[Comments EU/IFI policies] Comments by Eco-sense on the EBRD's draft country strategy for Macedonia
(January 14, 2010)
The comments propose a shift in the EBRD's investment in Macedonia towards more sustainable modes of transport and renewable and energy efficiency projects.
[Comments EU/IFI policies] Karaganda Ecological Museum comments on the EBRD's draft country strategy for Kazakhstan for 2009-2011
(December 22, 2009)
[Comments EU/IFI policies] KzHRB comments on the EBRD's draft country strategy for Kazakhstan for 2009-2011
(December 22, 2009)
[Comments EU/IFI policies] Green Action comments on the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Kastijun Regional Waste Management Centre, Croatia
(November 20, 2009)
[Comments EU/IFI policies] Submission for the EIB Transparency Policy consultation - second round
(November 13, 2009)
Taking advantage of the second opportunity within the policy revision process, Bankwatch, Counter Balance and the Global Transparency Inititative submitted new commments and recommendations for the EIB's Transparency Policy.
Apart from several detailed comments to the bank's Transparency Policy, the points raised include the following areas:
Apart from several detailed comments to the bank's Transparency Policy, the points raised include the following areas:
- Routine disclosure of environmental information by the Bank,
- Project environmental information that is disclosed by the borrower,
- Transparency of the governing bodies of the Bank
- Intermediary loans, and
- The principles of exception allowing refusal of disclosure should be unequivocally addressed in the new policy.
[Comments EU/IFI policies] Model Transparency Policy of the European Investment Bank
(November 9, 2009)
[Comments EU/IFI policies] Comments on the draft EBRD country strategy for Albania
(October 31, 2009)
[Comments EU/IFI policies] Updated NGO position paper on the EIB's regional strategy for Central Asia
(October 30, 2009)
[Comments EU/IFI policies] Report from the Gazela resettlement fact-finding mission in October 2009
(October 19, 2009)
On 31 August 2009 the inhabitants of the Gazela informal settlement in Belgrade were resettled to temporary accommodation at four sites outside of Belgrade. After a visit conducted by partner group CEKOR in September which found a number of important issues needing to be addressed, Bankwatch carried out a follow-up fact-finding mission on 6-8 October 2009.
Some improvements in the current conditions have taken place, however as the colder weather sets in, heaters need to be urgently provided. Employment and the plans for the long-term resettlement of the project-affected people remain to be resolved. Similarly the sustainability of the resettlement of those who originally came from outside of Belgrade needs to be addressed, as around 20 out of the 60 families who were taken to their towns of origin in southern Serbia have already returned to Belgrade to live in informal settlements.
Some improvements in the current conditions have taken place, however as the colder weather sets in, heaters need to be urgently provided. Employment and the plans for the long-term resettlement of the project-affected people remain to be resolved. Similarly the sustainability of the resettlement of those who originally came from outside of Belgrade needs to be addressed, as around 20 out of the 60 families who were taken to their towns of origin in southern Serbia have already returned to Belgrade to live in informal settlements.
[Comments EU/IFI policies] Fact-finding mission report on Corridor Vc motorway project, Bosnia and Herzegovina
(October 19, 2009)
This report details the findings from our second fact-finding mission on the Corridor Vc motorway in Bosnia and Herzegovina, carried out in September 2009. Since the last mission in March proposals for changes in the route have been approved by the government of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, which would avoid the problems at the tentative UNESCO World Heritage Sites Blagaj and Pocitelj.
Yet rather than being universally hailed as a progressive step in infrastructure planning, the move has unleashed a volley of corruption allegations, boycotts and a resignation, and bizarre attempts to cast it as an ethnic issue. It is to be hoped that the Federation's decision-makers will move beyond the ongoing soap opera and ensure that the project does not negatively affect Blagaj and Pocitelj.
Yet rather than being universally hailed as a progressive step in infrastructure planning, the move has unleashed a volley of corruption allegations, boycotts and a resignation, and bizarre attempts to cast it as an ethnic issue. It is to be hoped that the Federation's decision-makers will move beyond the ongoing soap opera and ensure that the project does not negatively affect Blagaj and Pocitelj.
[Comments EU/IFI policies] CEE Bankwatch Network input for the EBRD transport sector evaluation
(October 1, 2009)
CEE Bankwatch Network's inputs into the EBRDs evaluation of its work
in the transport sectoran important sector but one which is the
fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions.
As well as commenting on individual projects Bankwatch is calling on the EBRD to dramatically reduce investments in new motorways, restrict aviation investments to safety measures and air traffic management, and ensure that railway restructuring does not result in disincentives for its use such as higher prices. We are also concerned that the transition indicators used by the EBRD concentrate on promoting private sector participation even in sub-sectors where significant advantages for service provision have not been proven and where even advanced market economies sometimes do not employ private sector service provision.
Finally we call on the EBRD to ensure that its transition indicators measure not only transition to a market economy but also transition to a low-carbon economy.
As well as commenting on individual projects Bankwatch is calling on the EBRD to dramatically reduce investments in new motorways, restrict aviation investments to safety measures and air traffic management, and ensure that railway restructuring does not result in disincentives for its use such as higher prices. We are also concerned that the transition indicators used by the EBRD concentrate on promoting private sector participation even in sub-sectors where significant advantages for service provision have not been proven and where even advanced market economies sometimes do not employ private sector service provision.
Finally we call on the EBRD to ensure that its transition indicators measure not only transition to a market economy but also transition to a low-carbon economy.
[Comments EU/IFI policies] Bankwatch input to the European Commission's consultation on a sustainable future for transport
(September 29, 2009)
In our consultation input we call for an integrated design of the future transport policy of the EU. The development of the transport sector needs to be placed in a wider context and contribute to the harmonization of conditions between rail, road, waterways as well as air traffic.
Transport contributes to climate change and other environmental problems like air emissions and noise. But at the same time it is favoured by significant subsidies. Some of them, particularly those in the road and aviation sectors, are clearly counter-productive from the point of view of achieving the EU’s environmental targets.
Therefore, the EU’s prioritisation in the transport infrastructure sector must focus on “smart” investments that contribute to decreasing car dependency, noise and air pollution, urban sprawl and chronic congestion.
Transport contributes to climate change and other environmental problems like air emissions and noise. But at the same time it is favoured by significant subsidies. Some of them, particularly those in the road and aviation sectors, are clearly counter-productive from the point of view of achieving the EU’s environmental targets.
Therefore, the EU’s prioritisation in the transport infrastructure sector must focus on “smart” investments that contribute to decreasing car dependency, noise and air pollution, urban sprawl and chronic congestion.
[Comments EU/IFI policies] BWN input for the EBRD’s sectoral evaluation of Municipal Environmental Infrastructure projects
(September 24, 2009)
CEE Bankwatch Network's inputs into the EBRD’s evaluation of its work in the Municipal Environmental Infrastructure sector, a sector playing an important role in determining the quality of people’s lives through waste management, water and wastewater, and urban transport projects.
As well as commenting on individual projects Bankwatch is calling on the EBRD to move beyond its interest in promoting private sector participation and define more clearly in its forthcoming new MEI policy how its investments will make a real improvement in people's lives. A need for better public participation in water and waste projects and an increased emphasis on affordability and environmental sustainability of waste projects are among the other topics addressed in the document.
As well as commenting on individual projects Bankwatch is calling on the EBRD to move beyond its interest in promoting private sector participation and define more clearly in its forthcoming new MEI policy how its investments will make a real improvement in people's lives. A need for better public participation in water and waste projects and an increased emphasis on affordability and environmental sustainability of waste projects are among the other topics addressed in the document.
[Comments EU/IFI policies] Comments on draft EBRD Investment Strategy for Russia for 2009-2011
(September 23, 2009)
Save Yuntolovo comments on the EBRD's Investment Strategy for Russia and calls for an effective implementation of the strategy's cross-priority of energy efficiency, for more transparency in the process, etc.
[Comments EU/IFI policies] Comments on the draft EBRD property sector strategy
(September 1, 2009)
These comments on the EBRD’s new draft property sector strategy are primarily concerned with the environmental and social impact of the bank’s investments in the sector. Bankwatch and Green Istria would like to see the investments being targeted at projects that will clearly leave ordinary people and the environment better off, particularly in the current crisis context, and where the EBRD adds clear value compared to private sector investors.
[Comments EU/IFI policies] Eco-sense comments to the new revised EIA study for the Demir Kapija-Smokvica highway
(August 26, 2009)
The comments are written in Macedonian and can be downloaded from Eco-sense's website.
Download Eco-sense comments to the new revised EIA study for the Demir Kapija-Smokvica highway
Download Eco-sense comments to the new revised EIA study for the Demir Kapija-Smokvica highway
[Comments EU/IFI policies] Comments on EIB Transparency & Public Disclosure Policy under revision
(July 30, 2009)
The document offers suggestions for revisions of the EIB's Transparency & Public Disclosure Policies, including both general and detailed comments on both policies, among others on intermediated loans, publications vs. disclosure, corporate governance, stakeholders engagement and the policy framework.
[Comments EU/IFI policies] Comments on EIB Complaint Mechanism Policy under revision
(July 30, 2009)
The document offers suggestions for revisions of the EIB's Complaint Mechanism Policy, covering the scope of the mechanism, complaint procedures, stakeholders' engagment, publication and reporting and data protection, as well as the conceptual framework and objective of the mechanism.
CEE Bankwatch Network gratefully acknowledges EU funding support.