The Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey
In November 2002, the Environment Minister of Georgia declared that the plans for the Baku-Tbilisi- Ceyhan pipeline violate Georgian law. If constructed, the 1,000-mile pipeline will carry oil from BP’s Caspian oilfields, through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, to the Mediterranean. Groups in the region claim that it undermines the transition to democracy by fostering corruption; it risks inflaming conflict, will lead to human rights abuses and it will worsen climate change. The project is being considered by the following ECAs: ECGD (United Kingdom), Hermes (Germany), Ex-Im Bank (United States), SACE (Italy) and COFACE (France).

The Cernavoda 2 Nuclear Power Plant: Romania
This project – first conceived in the Ceauceascu era – is failing to meet international nuclear norms and safety standards, and has attracted concern from the European Commission (DG Enlargement) and civil society groups in Romania and the European Union. Only one of four project studies has been made public, yet it appears that issues of spent fuel and nuclear waste are unresolved, while risks from earthquakes, floods and accidents have been underestimated. The 3750 million completion costs of Cernavoda 2 are expected to come from the following ECAs: SACE (Italy), COFACE (France), EDC (Canada) and Ex-Im Bank (US).

Camisea Gas Project: Peru
These pipelines and wells are causing havoc in one of the world’s most ecologicallyprized rainforests of the Amazon Basin and on territories claimed by indigenous peoples. The Machiguenga, Yine, Nahua (Yora), Kirineri and Nanti (Kugapakori) peoples are being robbed of their livelihoods as companies with poor environmental records race towards construction. The project is threatening local food supplies, polluting drinking water and has already caused the death of one Machiguenga child following the abuse of safety regulations by project workers. The $2.6 billion project is supported by the Belgian ECA (OND/Delcredere) and is being considered by SACE (Italy) and the Ex-Im Bank (United States).

The Lesotho Highlands Water Project: Lesotho
In September 2002, the Canadian company Acres was convicted on bribery charges relating to this multi-billion dollar project, while other companies – including European companies backed by ECAs – are awaiting trial. The project is designed to divert water from Lesotho to the urban and industrial regions of South Africa through a series of dams and tunnels blasted through the mountains. It directly affects approximately 27,000 people and has displaced hundreds of subsistence farmers, many of who have not been properly compensated. Despite the corruption charges, the EU and its member states are supporting European companies involved in the project through loans, grants and ECA guarantees. The ECAs include COFACE (France), Hermes (Germany), ECGD (United Kingdom) and SACE (Italy).

The Bujagali Dam: Uganda
This 200mw hydropower project on the Victoria Nile will increase Uganda’s debt burden, affect the livelihoods of thousands of people and cause major environmental damage. If built, the power it generates will do nothing to help the 95% of Uganda’s population who are not connected to the national grid. Ugandans will also pay millions of dollars in excessive payments each year thanks to a deal struck between the dam’s developer, AES Corporation, and the government of Uganda. The project will permanently submerge highly productive agricultural land and river islands that are rich in biodiversity. Fisheries are likely to be severely affected. The project’s funders include the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the following ECAs: EKN (Sweden), ERG (Switzerland), GIEK (Norway), and FINNVERA (Finland).

The European ECA Reform Campaign
The European ECA Reform Campaign brings together a coalition of organisations working to achieve binding environmental, development, human rights and social guidelines for EU-based ECAs, set at a significant high level and drawing upon relevant internationally-recognised standards and EU legislation. The European ECA Reform Campaign brings together a coalition of organisations including Both Ends (The Netherlands), The Cornerhouse (UK), ECA Watch (Austria), FERN (EU), Les Amis de la Terre (France), Reform the World Bank Campaign (Italy), Urgewald (Germany), WEED (Germany) and WWF (UK). The campaign is co-ordinated by Emilie Thenard of FERN. Tel: +32 (0)2 735 2500. Further information: www.fern.org.