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Immediate release: May 16, 2005 Bridging the gap between the EBRD's rhetoric and reality in the Balkans Sofia, Bulgaria -- A new publication reveals the reality behind the efforts of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to "build bridges and promote prosperity" in the Balkan region. Released today ahead of this week's EBRD annual meeting in Belgrade, "Bridging the gap between the EBRD's rhetorics and reality" [1] provides eight case studies of EBRD backed projects in five Balkan countries. The publication has been put together by Stability Pact Watch, a coalition of Balkan NGOs and the CEE Bankwatch Network. A closer look at these projects exposes the business-as-usual approaches used in the Balkans: the lack of transparency and proper justification of project costs, and consistent disregard for public opinion and environmental values. The authors question who are the real beneficiaries of the EBRD's investments in the Balkans, and ask why the public should have to pay back loans which can and do lead to higher water bills and negative public health impacts. Examples of the EBRD projects analysed range from wastewater infrastructure in Croatia and Serbia, through electrical company privatisation in Macedonia, to gross threats to the environment, health and society in Romania and Bulgaria. Some of these projects are often described as 'show-cases' within the EBRD's lending portfolio, while others are used by local politicians for short-term political purposes to demonstrate their ability to attract investments and promote development. Pippa Gallop from Green Action, Croatia, said, "The Zagreb Central Wastewater Treatment Plant is supposed to address the fact that Zagreb has until now had no wastewater treatment facilities for its 900 000 inhabitants, but critics of the project claim that it is a costly fraud which will benefit the investors at the expense of local people. Household water bills in the Zagreb area have doubled in order to pay for the treatment plant, and industry bills have also risen substantially. Several companies are currently refusing to pay their increased bills." These case studies present not only the failure of the EBRD to fulfill its commitments to society and the environment, but also its failure to promote new business ethics and democracy in the Balkans. Ion Zamfir, from Earth Friends, Romania, describes the highly controversial Ispad Sidex iron and steel works: "The EBRD offered Mitall Steel, the new owners, an opportunity to improve its environmental performance, but then closed its eyes to the evidence of a non-transparent environmental permission. Afraid of losing their jobs, thousands of people in Galati prefer not to ask the foreign owners for a transparent environmental policy, yet the plant's pollution levels remain critical." For more information, contact: Fidanka Bacheva CEE Bankwatch Network Tel: +359-2-851-86-20 Mobile: +359-899-876-095 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Notes for editors: 1. Copies of "Bridging the gap between the EBRD's rhetoric and reality" are available on request and can be viewed at: http://www.bankwatch.org/publications/studies/2005/bridging_gap_05-05.pdf For press enquiries during the EBRD annual meeting in Belgrade (May 22-23) contact: Greig Aitken, Bankwatch media coordinator, +420 605 216 705 *** sustineti [romania_eu_list] prin 1% din impozitul pe 2005 - detalii la http://www.europe.org.ro/euroatlantic_club/unulasuta.php *** Yahoo! Groups Links
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