News
[Press release] Euro-wide call to Environment commissioner - 'Cyanide ban whitewash damages democracy'
(September 9, 2010)
More than one hundred environmental groups from across Europe have
written today to Janez Potocnik, European environment commissioner,
calling for a "transparent and balanced" consultation process to be
conducted regarding a European Parliament resolution on cyanide mining
passed earlier this year.
The resolution – one of the strongest ever passed in the European
Parliament on an environmental matter – called on the European
Commission to propose a general ban on the use of cyanide mining
technologies in the European Union by 2011.
In July, Potocnik rejected the resolution, arguing that existing EU legislation should be sufficient to ensure the safety of cyanide mining operations. Environmental groups criticised the commissioner's verdict which was arrived at without open public discussion but involved concerted industry lobbying.
Daniel Popov, CEE Bankwatch Network mining campaigner from Bulgaria, said: "The commissioner's basic justification for rejecting the will of a huge majority of MEPs holds no water and, as his department is in possession of a range of detailed complaints regarding failed legal enforcement at cyanide-based mine operations, he should know it.
In July, Potocnik rejected the resolution, arguing that existing EU legislation should be sufficient to ensure the safety of cyanide mining operations. Environmental groups criticised the commissioner's verdict which was arrived at without open public discussion but involved concerted industry lobbying.
Daniel Popov, CEE Bankwatch Network mining campaigner from Bulgaria, said: "The commissioner's basic justification for rejecting the will of a huge majority of MEPs holds no water and, as his department is in possession of a range of detailed complaints regarding failed legal enforcement at cyanide-based mine operations, he should know it.
[Press release] No public money for Nabucco - mega gas project a drain on clean energy, human rights and the environment, says Bankwatch
(September 6, 2010)
Budapest, Hungary – Reacting to today's announcement by the Nabucco Consortium that international public banks are now officially commencing their appraisal of the EUR 7.9 billion (estimated) Nabucco gas pipeline project, watchdog group CEE Bankwatch Network called on the international financiers to reject what would be record European public finance for the project and instead to focus on the financing of clean energy in central and eastern Europe, particularly climate-friendly, job-boosting energy efficiency.
As announced today, the Nabucco Consortium is seeking EUR 800 million from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank's private lending arm, EUR 2 billion from the European Investment Bank, and EUR 1.2 billion from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). In the case of the two European institutions, these would be unprecedented sums for one single fossil fuel project.
Piotr Trzaskowski, Bankwatch's Energy & Climate Coordinator, said: “Now that the gloves are off, and a mandate letter has been signed by the banks to start their official appraisal process, we would expect the terms of this mandate to be made fully available to the public, as it's clear that there is a wide range of hurdles to be cleared if the banks are to be able to satisfy their lending requirements and provide finance to Nabucco.
As announced today, the Nabucco Consortium is seeking EUR 800 million from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank's private lending arm, EUR 2 billion from the European Investment Bank, and EUR 1.2 billion from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). In the case of the two European institutions, these would be unprecedented sums for one single fossil fuel project.
Piotr Trzaskowski, Bankwatch's Energy & Climate Coordinator, said: “Now that the gloves are off, and a mandate letter has been signed by the banks to start their official appraisal process, we would expect the terms of this mandate to be made fully available to the public, as it's clear that there is a wide range of hurdles to be cleared if the banks are to be able to satisfy their lending requirements and provide finance to Nabucco.
[Press release] Groups blast veiled decision-making at European Commission as mining industry revels in rejection of crucial Parliamentary resolution
(July 7, 2010)
Environmental organisations have today criticised Commissioner Janez Potocnik for heeding mining industry lobbyists over a democratically elected European Parliament, in failing to open public discussions and rejecting a resolution to ban the use of cyanide in mining processes throughout the European Union.
The resolution, put forward by Parliament in May and one of the strongest resolutions on environmental questions ever passed, calls “on the Commission to propose a complete ban on the use of cyanide mining technologies in the European Union before the end of 2011, since this is the only safe way to protect our water resources and ecosystems against cyanide pollution from mining activities.”
Yet while repeated attempts by civil society groups to be involved in consultations on implementing the ban were stonewalled by the Commission, mining industry sources have boastfully circulated news about their active involvement in having the resolution shot down via the European Association of Mining Industries, an industry lobby committee formed to advise the Commission.
The resolution, put forward by Parliament in May and one of the strongest resolutions on environmental questions ever passed, calls “on the Commission to propose a complete ban on the use of cyanide mining technologies in the European Union before the end of 2011, since this is the only safe way to protect our water resources and ecosystems against cyanide pollution from mining activities.”
Yet while repeated attempts by civil society groups to be involved in consultations on implementing the ban were stonewalled by the Commission, mining industry sources have boastfully circulated news about their active involvement in having the resolution shot down via the European Association of Mining Industries, an industry lobby committee formed to advise the Commission.
[Highlight] European public banks need to do more on renewables and energy efficiency in southeast Europe says new Bankwatch study
(July 1, 2010)
A new Bankwatch study urges the international financial institutions (IFIs) to reverse the trend towards investments in climate-damaging fossil fuel projects and step up their financing for new renewables and energy efficiency in the region.
The report finds that 50 percent of the European Investment Bank’s energy investments in the region in the period 2002-2009 were for fossil fuel projects, with only nine percent for energy efficiency and renewables. 52 percent of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s energy investments were for fossil fuel projects, with 28 percent in renewables and energy efficiency. The vast majority of the EBRD renewables and energy efficiency investments have been carried out in Bulgaria, with very few in the Western Balkans so far.
The report finds that 50 percent of the European Investment Bank’s energy investments in the region in the period 2002-2009 were for fossil fuel projects, with only nine percent for energy efficiency and renewables. 52 percent of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s energy investments were for fossil fuel projects, with 28 percent in renewables and energy efficiency. The vast majority of the EBRD renewables and energy efficiency investments have been carried out in Bulgaria, with very few in the Western Balkans so far.
