Environmental and Social Safeguards Policy

The CEB is committed to promoting social responsibility and sustainable development in the way it conducts its project-related operations and the dialogue with its beneficiaries and stakeholders.

The Environmental and Social Safeguards Policy (ESSP), approved by the Administrative Council on 17 November 2016 replaces the Environmental Policy which was first introduced in September 2010. The new ESSP integrates lessons learned from past operational experience, clarifies the way in which social safeguard issues are addressed, and ensures consistency with international good practice. It is intended to provide a better understanding of how the CEB addresses environmental and social sustainability issues and what it expects from its borrowers in that respect.

The European Principles for the Environment (EPE)

The CEB is a signatory of the Declaration of European Principles for the Environment. This declaration associates the Commission and several other IFIs (EIB, EBRD, NEFCO, NIB) in a joint effort to implement the "fundamental right of present and future generations to live in a healthy environment". It recognises that the IFIs will ensure the respect and promotion of the community acquis and of the international commitments made by the European countries concerning the protection and management of the environment.

The EPE are the basis for the Bank’s approach to environmental sustainability.

Disclosure of environmental and social aspects

As indicated in the Environmental and Social Safeguards Policy, the CEB requires that the borrowers or project promoters of CEB-funded projects facilitate the availability of environmental information to concerned stakeholders in accordance with the provisions of the Aarhus Convention on access to information and public consultation, when appropriate. The CEB also provides access to project related environmental and or social information public on its website when appropriate and as stated hereunder.

For projects presenting potential environmental and or social risks, i.e. category “A” projects, and category “B” projects subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), or an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) the Bank provides access to a non-technical summary of the project, at least thirty days before any Administrative Council decision. The summary contains: the name of the project, the borrower or project promoter involved, the location of the project, the field(s) of eligibility, a description of the project and of its objectives as well as the conclusions of the E(S)IA.

For multi-project loan facilities, detailed environmental information related to sub-projects generally becomes available once the loan facility has been approved by the Administrative Council and implementation has started. In such case, publication of environmental information for (sub) projects that are subject to E(S)IA is delegated to the intermediary institution. When appropriate the Bank provides a link to the intermediary institution’s website where E(S)IA documentation can be consulted.

Projects and/or multi-project loan facilities for public disclosure:

ItalyInvestments in aqueduct, sewerage and purification services infrastructures in the Provinces of Genoa and La Spezia

CEB's Environmental and Social Safeguards Policy

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Related publications
  • Environmental and Social Safeguards Policy
    Environmental and Social Safeguards Policy
    Published: November 2016 Read