Counter Balance

ODG, our Catalonian partner released a new report: “Impunity Inc.” (PDF). It highlights the “super-rights” and “super-powers” of transnational corporations through three case studies. An interactive map visualises the different cases and their negative impacts. The publication describes the abuses and violations of fundamental labour rights taking place on a daily basis inexport-oriented garment factories working for [...]

Brussels — Ahead of next week’s expected release from the European Investment Bank of its final draft energy policy, CEE Bankwatch Network and Counter Balance are urging the EU’s house bank to ensure that its annual portfolio of EUR 70 billion is guided by a policy that enables Europe to meet its long-term commitments on [...]

While the G8 leaders claim they are at war with tax avoidance, their own bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is involved in deals linked to offshore financial centres. Originally posted on the Bankwatch website by Anne-Sophie Simpere, MENA coordinator. Tackling tax avoidance was one of David Cameron’s priorities for the UK-hosted G8 meeting during [...]

Cairo/Brussels - On Wednesday 29 May, the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD) will vote on whether to make a $40 million loan to Kuwait Energy to drill and extract oil inEgypt. Egyptian and international organisations are pushing the board of the public multilateral bank to reject the loan – or at least postpone [...]

Launch debate and presentation of the report “The Great Middle East Beanfeast - How ‘Development’ Banks are Using Public-Private Partnerships to Carve Up the Arab Spring Countries” Remember the Arab spring, the wave of popular revolts that hit several Arab countries in 2011. They initially resulted in the ousting of cruel dictators and brought about [...]

BRUSSELS - On the 23rd of April the EIB will approve its revised anti-fraud policy. What should have been an open process taking into account current political commitments against tax evasion and money laundering and recent investigations by the European anti-fraud office OLAF into projects financed by the EIB, will turn out to be a [...]