Joint Statement by Accountability Counsel, Amnesty International, ARTICLE 19, CEE Bankwatch Network, Center for International Environmental Law, Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO), and Human Rights Watch

The document critiques the EBRD's draft Environment and Social Policy for removing commitments to international human rights law, limiting transparency, and failing to implement robust human rights due diligence. It specifically highlights concerns regarding forced evictions, the definition of indigenous peoples, and gaps in the Project Complaint Mechanism (PCM).

• The draft policy removes a commitment that the EBRD will not knowingly finance projects contravening international treaties on human rights, environmental protection, and sustainable development, replacing it with a weaker commitment to seek project structures guided by EU and international law 'where appropriate'.
• The draft policy shifts the benchmark for funded projects from international environmental and human rights law and standards to 'good international practice'.
• The draft Public Information Policy is criticised for maintaining extensive confidentiality exemptions, including a clause for documents intended for internal purposes, and requiring client agreement for the disclosure of information under confidentiality agreements.
• The EBRD's draft policy lacks explicit human rights due diligence and allows environmental and social project appraisals to be conducted after Board approval and the signing of financial agreements.
• While the draft policy prohibits knowingly financing projects involving evictions contrary to international human rights standards, it is criticised for allowing resettlement sites to meet only one or more of the seven requirements for adequate housing rather than all of them.
• The draft policy's definition of indigenous peoples is viewed as restrictive because it requires 'recognition by others' and limits the recognition of forced removal to the lifetime of the group members.
• The Project Complaint Mechanism (PCM) is described as having a window for complaints that is too narrow, as compliance reviews can only be filed after project approval and cannot be filed after the final disbursement of funds.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2014). Joint Statement by Accountability Counsel, Amnesty International, ARTICLE 19, CEE Bankwatch Network, Center for International Environmental Law, Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO), and Human Rights Watch. https://www.ciel.org/news/european-bank-for-reconstruction-and-development-draft-environment-and-social-policy-retreats-on-human-rights/

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Joint Statement by Accountability Counsel, Amnesty International, ARTICLE 19, CEE Bankwatch Network, Center for International Environmental Law, Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO), and Human Rights Watch. 2014. https://www.ciel.org/news/european-bank-for-reconstruction-and-development-draft-environment-and-social-policy-retreats-on-human-rights/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Joint Statement by Accountability Counsel, Amnesty International, ARTICLE 19, CEE Bankwatch Network, Center for International Environmental Law, Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO), and Human Rights Watch |date=1 February 2014 |url=https://www.ciel.org/news/european-bank-for-reconstruction-and-development-draft-environment-and-social-policy-retreats-on-human-rights/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2014joint, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Joint Statement by Accountability Counsel, Amnesty International, ARTICLE 19, CEE Bankwatch Network, Center for International Environmental Law, Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO), and Human Rights Watch}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2014}, month = feb, url = {https://www.ciel.org/news/european-bank-for-reconstruction-and-development-draft-environment-and-social-policy-retreats-on-human-rights/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }