Policy Letters
[Policy letter] Letter to the EBRD asking for investigation into alleged irregularities regarding the Gazela resettlements
(February 3, 2010)
[Policy letter] Letter accompanying Bankwatch's comments on the European Commission's Communication on public-private partnerships
(January 26, 2010)
Bankwatch's policy comments on public-private partnerships are available here.
[Policy letter] NGO letter to EIB and European Commissioners regarding the bank's potential involvement in the Moscow-St.Petersburg motorway project
(January 19, 2010)
The letter, signed by 41 civil society organisations from Russia, requests the European Investment Bank not to approve funding for the Moscow-St.Petersburg motorway project unless the route is changed to avoid the Khimki Forest near Moscow.
[Response] EBRD response to open NGO letter regarding the Moscow-St.Petersburg motorway project
(February 16, 2010)
[Response] EIB response to an open NGO letter regarding the bank's potential involvement in the Moscow-St.Petersburg motorway project
(February 3, 2010)
[Policy letter] Letter to DG Economic and Financial Affairs regarding the EIB's external mandate and Central Asia
(January 11, 2010)
Crude Accountability, Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law, “Taraqiyot” Development Centre, Tajikistan, Karaganda Ecological Museum
[Policy letter] Letter to EIB requesting information on SME lending through financial intermediaries
(January 4, 2010)
Download: Letter to EIB requesting information on SME lending through financial intermediaries
(PDF)
[Response] EIB response to Bankwatch's request for information on EIB's SME lending through financial intermediaries
(January 27, 2010)
[Policy letter] Letter to ArcelorMittal asking to disclose information under the company's Stakeholder Engagement Plan
(December 23, 2009)
[Policy letter] Letter to EBRD regarding legal punishment of human rights activist supporting Kumtor cyanide spill victims
(December 22, 2009)
The letter addresses the Kyrgyz Republic's Supreme Court decision to uphold a 2-year conditional sentence on Ms Baktygul Imankozhoeva, a doctor in the village of Barskoon near the EBRD-financed Kumtor gold mine, for abuse of official position.
The charges appear to be fabricated as a response to Ms Imankozhoeva's advocacy on behalf of the victims of a 1998 cyanide spill from the mine, and form part of a continuing pattern of intimidation against her.
The charges appear to be fabricated as a response to Ms Imankozhoeva's advocacy on behalf of the victims of a 1998 cyanide spill from the mine, and form part of a continuing pattern of intimidation against her.
[Policy letter] Letter to the EIB regarding impacts of a proposed D1 motorway section
(December 21, 2009)
The letter accompanied an expert study on the expected impacts of the proposed D1 motorway section Turany-Hubová on animal species, biotopes and Natura2000 sites. The study (in Slovak language) is available at the website of Bankwatch member group Friends of the Earth-CEPA.
[Policy letter] Letter to the European Commission regarding impacts of a proposed D1 motorway section
(December 21, 2009)
The letter accompanied an expert study on the expected impacts of the proposed D1 motorway section Turany-Hubová on animal species, biotopes and Natura2000 sites. The study (in Slovak language) is available at the website of Bankwatch member group Friends of the Earth-CEPA.
[Policy letter] Letter to the EBRD regarding the Kapan gold mine, Armenia
(December 10, 2009)
The letter outlines the situation found during the latest fact finding mission and provides visual proof of the lack of re-cultivation on site.
[Policy letter] Letter to EBRD requesting the evaluation of Mittal Steel Temirtau Coal Mine Modernisation project
(December 9, 2009)
[Policy letter] Letter to Energy Community of South East Europe regarding Porto Romano power plant
(December 2, 2009)
[Policy letter] Letter to EIB asking for further explanation of ArcelorMittal's eligibility for EIB funding
(November 27, 2009)
[Response] EIB response regarding ArcelorMittal's eligibility for funding
(December 22, 2009)
[Policy letter] Letter to EIB regarding the bank's consideration to finance the Moscow - St. Petersburg motorway PPP
(November 26, 2009)
Bankwatch is concerned about the EIB and EBRD's plans to finance the Moscow - St Petersburg motorway, which threatens the Khimki Forest outside of Moscow. Local people are vigorously campaigning to ensure that the motorway does not destroy their local green area. Here, we ask for some information regarding the EIB's participation in the project.
[Response] EIB response regarding the bank's consideration to finance the Moscow - St. Petersburg motorway PPP
(December 22, 2009)
[Policy letter] Letter to European Commission regarding the EIB's consideration to finance the Moscow - St. Petersburg motorway PPP
(November 24, 2009)
[Policy letter] Letter to European Commission regarding proposed EIB loan for ArcelorMittal Brazil
(November 19, 2009)
Less than a month after approving a EUR 250 million loan for ArcelorMittal’s EU operations, the EIB is now considering a EUR 130 million loan for the world’s largest steel company, this time for the company’s business activities in Brazil.
Considering its size and resources, Global Action on ArcelorMittal believe that ArcelorMittal could access financing from other sources, and is concerned about the company’s environmental, social and transparency record. The coalition therefore urges the EC to issue a negative opinion for this loan to ArcelorMittal in Brazil.
Considering its size and resources, Global Action on ArcelorMittal believe that ArcelorMittal could access financing from other sources, and is concerned about the company’s environmental, social and transparency record. The coalition therefore urges the EC to issue a negative opinion for this loan to ArcelorMittal in Brazil.
[Policy letter] Letter to EBRD urging the bank to control NPC Ukrenergo's high voltage grid project near Odessa, Ukraine
(November 17, 2009)
[Policy letter] Tajikistani NGO letter to EIB regarding the energy sector development in Tajikistan
(November 16, 2009)
[Policy letter] Letter to EBRD's President Mirow regarding the bank's fourth Capital Resource Review
(November 16, 2009)
The letter calls for President Mirow to ensure an inclusive debate about the bank’s role and priorities while the EBRD's undertakes its Capital Resources Review 4 (CRR4). Bankwatch request that the bank consults external stakeholders about the review, and that background materials related to the process are publicly disclosed in a timely manner.
Download: Letter to EBRD's President Mirow regarding the bank's fourth Capital Resource Review
(PDF)
[Response] Response from EBRD President Mirow regarding the bank's fourth Capital Resource Review
(January 14, 2010)
[Policy letter] Letter to EIB dealing with human rights abuses by Turkmentistan against environmental activist Andrey Zatoka
(November 16, 2009)
As the EIB considers financing the Nabucco Gas Pipeline project, the letter requests the bank to take into account the serious human rights violations occurring in Turkmenistan, as exemplified by Mr. Zatoka’s case.
Mr. Zatoka, for no reason, has been denied his citizenship, evicted from his home and community, and forced to emigrate to Russia in order to stay out of prison. The incident was clearly a set-up and was the culmination of over three years of harassment of Mr. Zatoka by the Turkmen government. Mr. Zatoka was arrested in December 2006, also on falsified charges, and was released in January 2007 after international outcry over his detainment.
More information on the case can be found on Crude Accountability's website.
Mr. Zatoka, for no reason, has been denied his citizenship, evicted from his home and community, and forced to emigrate to Russia in order to stay out of prison. The incident was clearly a set-up and was the culmination of over three years of harassment of Mr. Zatoka by the Turkmen government. Mr. Zatoka was arrested in December 2006, also on falsified charges, and was released in January 2007 after international outcry over his detainment.
More information on the case can be found on Crude Accountability's website.
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