The EBRD has developed strategies, policies, procedures and related guidelines to guide its operations. Basic information on EBRD policies and strategies can be found on the EBRD webpage.
Public Information Policy
On May 12, 2008 the EBRD approved the 2008 Public Information Policy. In response to stakeholder demands, the new policy is replacing EBRD's 2006 Public Information Policy ahead of scheduled review in 2009. For detailed information about the policy as well as the revision process, see BIC’s Transparency at the EBRD webpage.
EBRD 2008 Public Information Policy, May 12, 2008 (EBRD website)
Accountability at the EBRD: Independent Recourse Mechanism
In 2004 the EBRD instituted an Independent Recourse Mechanism (IRM) that allows local groups affected by EBRD project to file complaints with the Bank. The IRM is currently undergoing a review process.
Many civil society organizations have expressed concerns about the independence and transparency of the mechanism, the limited scope of its application, and its accessibility to affected communities, which were not addressed in the final document (see documents below). Similar concerns expressed by former World Bank Inspection Panel members were also not addressed.
EBRD Independent Recourse Mechanism, July 2004 (EBRD webpage)
Find out more on BIC's Accountability at the EBRD webpage.
Environmental and Social Policy
On May 12, 2008 EBRD Board of Directors approved the new Environmental and Social Policy. The review, which took place in 2007 and early 2008, encompasses important social provisions in addition to environmental standards that guide EBRD-financed projects.
During the review process CSOs expressed concerns about serious shortcomings in the policy with respect to social safeguards and public access to environmental information. They are advocating clear requirements for assessing and mitigating the adverse impacts of EBRD projects on the rights and living conditions of workers and local communities. They also lobbied the EBRD to provide greater access to environmental assessments, particularly in the early stages of planning and development of its projects.
EBRD 2008 Environmental and Social Policy, May 12, 2008 (EBRD website)
BIC comments on the draft EBRD Environmental and Social Policy, Bank Information Center (Acrobat pdf, 43 KB)
BIC Comments on EBRD Environmental Policy Discussion Paper, Bank
Information Center (Acrobat pdf, 49 KB)
CEE Bankwatch Network's comments on the draft EBRD Environmental and Social Policy (CEE Bankwatch website)
CEE Bankwatch papers and correspondence on the EBRD’s Environmental Policy (CEE Bankwatch website)
Country Strategies
The Bank Information Center prepares a timeline of the international financial institutions' plans for updating their 3-5 year country strategies, which define levels of lending and thematic/sector priorities for each borrowing country:
IFI Country Strategies for Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia: Overview, Schedule, and Contacts, December 2007, Bank Information Center (Acrobat pdf, 106 KB)