Counter Balance

 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 [...]

 Why it must be replaced with direct action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions Brussels, April 15th– The European Parliament votes tomorrow on the European Commission’s proposal to backload 900 million emissions permits within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). This vote assumes the EU ETS can be reformed, but ahead of the vote, a [...]

Official Development Assistance (ODA) budgets are under pressure – but never fear, the private sector is here to fill the gap. In short, that’s the EU’s answer to declining ODA budgets in times of crisis. How does this work? One word: “blending”. By Berber Verpoest, Counter Balance and María José Romero, Eurodad Mixing grants and [...]

How far is the EIB willing to go to avoid more corruption linked to its activities? After OLAF investigations in the Ibori and the Sostanj cases especially, this is the key question that will determine the success of EIB’s new anti fraud policy. By Xavier Sol, Counter Balance director Counter Balance, together with The Corner [...]

I want to tell you a funny thing about the European Investment Bank. But first, some background: I’m Mike Bonanno, and I’m a Yes Man. For over fifteen years, my friend Andy and I have been impersonating some of the worlds largest, nastiest and most criminal corporations. We’ve posed as the likes of Exxon, Halliburton, [...]

Jürgen KLUTE – Confederal Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left Franziska KELLER – Green/European Free Alliance Charles GOERENS – Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Gay MITCHELL – Group of the European People’s Party Invite you on 21 March in the European Parliament to discuss the pros [...]