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Time for partnership – agree NGOs and the EBRD President

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The Bank listens carefully to NGOs.

Partnership is high on the NGOs' wish list.

Partnership was high on the NGOs’ wish list when they met with EBRD President Jean Lemierre at the end of the Bank’s 2007 Annual Meeting, held in Kazan, the capital of Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan. It is the fifth year that NGOs have met with the EBRD President to exchange views. NGOs engaged in a dialogue with Mr Lemierre and other senior Bank staff on human rights, energy efficiency and the environment.

“It is difficult to keep a close watch on all the countries of operations from our headquarters in London,” Mr Lemierre said, reminding the NGOs of their importance to the Bank. “We need you. Civil society is crucial for sustainable economic progress. We must engage in a dialogue and build a partnership,” added Mr Lemierre.

A partnership to benefit human rights

NGOs participating in the meeting unanimously agreed that they should be the Bank’s eyes and ears in the region.

“We want to engage in a dialogue with the Bank and provide your staff with expert analysis when they assess investment opportunities in Russia,” said Andrei Yurov speaking on behalf of human rights organisations in Russia.

“However, be choosy when engaging NGOs in a dialogue with the EBRD. Russia is rich and all too often the state funds NGOs. These NGOs are entirely one-sided and will not be good partners in assessing the situation on the ground,” said another NGO representative.

“Respect for human rights should be a must for EBRD investments in Russia,” said Mr Yurov.

Energy efficiency always on the agenda

The significant profit that the EBRD made in 2006 didn’t escape the NGOs’ attention. They suggested the EBRD use the profit to support energy efficiency initiatives in the region, particularly in district heating.

Said Mr Lemierre: “Energy efficiency is a top priority for the Bank. It has economic and environmental impacts. It is equally important because of the social cost of energy” when prices rise too high for poor people to heat their homes.

While energy efficiency is a top concern for NGOs, they warned Mr Lemierre that it would be dangerous for the Bank to become involved in nuclear energy projects.

The EBRD President assured the NGOs that the Bank’s interest in the nuclear energy sector is only related to the important work the Bank leads in nuclear decommissioning and nuclear safety projects.

Environment – important as ever

The Bank’s review of its Environmental Policy is an opportunity for NGOs to bring forward their concerns and suggestions. The review takes place every three years and the results will be presented to the Bank’s Board of Directors for approval by the end of 2007.

Sakhalin II, an oil and gas project on Russia’s Sakhalin Island, was back for discussion with Dmitry Lisitsyn of Sakhalin Environment Watch presenting images of environmental damage to river crossings on the Island. “We believe that the Sakhalin II project doesn’t fit with the Bank’s Environmental Policy and recommend that the Bank doesn’t invest in this project, should you be approached to finance it,” said Mr Lisitsyn.

Responded Mr Lemierre: “The Bank withdrew from the project in January 2007 following a significant change in the ownership of the Sakhalin Energy Investment Company. If we were to re-consider this project, the environmental assessment will be crucial.”

Other issues discussed concerned individual projects in Kazakhstan and Serbia. Health and safety, gender and minority groups’ concerns were among the issues raised by the NGOs, and Mr Lemierre assured the NGOs that these were becoming top priorities for the Bank too.

“I take stock of your concerns,” said the EBRD President. “These are challenging projects and it’s only through an honest dialogue with you that we can bring benefit to the people of the region.” Mr Lemierre invited NGOs to continue the dialogue during the year and at next year’s Annual Meeting in Kiev.

By Marjola Xhunga, Communications Adviser
Photos: Richard Bate
Contact: NGOs/Outreach

22 May 2007