2 September 2003
Includes info on a FOIA request of EIB, call for a comprehensive translation strategy at the World Bank, and latest resources.
The Global Working Group on IFI Transparency is an informal network of civil society organizations that have begun working together to overcome the secrecy surrounding the operations of the International Financial Institutions. What follows are actions that you can take and resources that you can use to get involved.
ACTIONS FOR GREATER IFI TRANSPARENCY
NGO USES NATIONAL FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT TO REQUEST DOCUMENTS FROM EIB:
The Center for Environmental Public Advocacy (CEPA), Slovakia, has filed a lawsuit against the Slovak Ministry of Transport for refusing to release the contract and loan conditions of a European Investment Bank (EIB) loan to restructure Slovak railways (ŽSR). Despite a strong Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in the country, the Ministry cited a “business confidentiality” clause in the EIB contract that restricts disclosure of information. CEPA argues that there is no reason for business confidentiality in a loan from an EU institution to a state-owned entity that has no competitors and operates completely in the public interest.
For more information, contact Peter Mihok ().
CALL FOR A COMPREHENSIVE TRANSLATION STRATEGY AT THE WORLD BANK:
The Call for a Comprehensive Translation Strategy at the World Bank received more than 50 endorsements from organizations world-wide and was translated into 15 languages. It was presented to World Bank Executive Directors on July 2, 2003, a day before the Board met to discuss a Translation Framework. Executive Directors eventually approved the Bank’s new Translation Framework and a budget for implementation. Although this paper has not yet been released to the public, its disclosure is soon anticipated.
To see the final Call for Translation, go to http://www.bicusa.org/policy/InfoDisclosure/index.htm#more.
For more information, contact Jen Kalafut ().
RESPONSE FROM EIB ON CALL FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY:
In Luxembourg on June 3, 2003, three "monkeys of truth" met EIB Governors attending the Annual Meeting in the Bank's headquarter in Luxembourg. The Monkeys, covering respectively their ears, eyes, and mouth, were sent to convey the message that the EIB sees no problems, hears no complaints, and gives no information. This action demonstrated the highly non-transparent practices of the EIB and the need for reform. At this meeting, NGOs presented a call to the Governors of the Bank and President Maystadt asking for greater efforts in fostering timely and adequate access to information on the Bank's operations for affected communities and the general public. The call was supported by 106 NGOs world-wide.
In response to this action, the EIB directed NGOs to a "transparency note" on the Bank’s website. The EIB will continue with its "flexible approach" on the information policy and maintains the right for clients to deny the release of information. However, the EIB is also beginning to consider arranged meetings between Bank staff and NGOs during Bank evaluation visits (or “missions”) to borrowing countries.
To see the Call to the EIB and for more information on EIB transparency, go to www.bankwatch.org.
For more information, contact Magda Stoczkiewicz ().
RECENT REPORTS AND RESOURCES
GLOBAL CORRUPTION REPORT 2003:
This is Transparency International’s second annual report on the state of corruption worldwide. The full report, over three-hundred pages in length, includes chapters on “Access to Information: Whose Right and Whose Information?” by Ann Florini and Richard Calland; “Freedom of information legislation: progress, concerns and standards” by Toby Mendel; and a variety of regional perspectives which allows for a comparative overview of the state of corruption and transparency in countries around the world.
See the report online at: http://www.globalcorruptionreport.org/.
IS TRANSPARENCY GOOD FOR YOU, AND CAN THE IMF HELP?
This IMF Working Paper, published in June 2003, finds that transparency can reduce borrowing costs in capital markets and that reforms supported by the IMF have contributed to better-informed markets. In the paper, transparency indicators include the disclosure of IMF Article IV reports, publication of IMF reports on financial regulation and other institutional issues (ROSCs), and compliance with the Fund’s SDDS, which establishes consistent definitions and minimum timeliness and frequency standards for the release of macroeconomic data.
See the working paper online at: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.cfm?sk=16492.0.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORLD BANK'S DISCLOSURE POLICY: AN EXTERNAL REVIEW (JUNE 2003):
This report, developed by the Bank Information Center, was prepared to provide World Bank Executive Directors and Management with an “external perspective” on how well the Bank has implemented its Disclosure Policy since the Policy became effective in January 2002. Part I of the report briefly discusses Bank compliance with the Disclosure Policy’s underlining principle of a presumption in favor of disclosure. Part II of the report outlines various implementation issues that the Bank must consider when conducting their own assessment of institutional compliance with the disclosure conditions outlined in the Policy.
See the report online at: http://www.bicusa.org/publications/WB_Discl_Pol_External_Review.pdf.
FREEDOMINFO.ORG--ANNOUNCEMENT OF RECENT ARTICLES:
Freedominfo.org provides information on struggles for access to information worldwide. The IFTIWatch section of this website specifically addresses transparency at the International Financial and Trade Institutions (IFTIs). In his column, Washington, DC-based journalist Toby J. McIntosh reports on the latest developments in information disclosure at the IFTIs. Recent articles include “IMF Board Requests Research on Legality of Mandatory Disclosure” and “World Bank Reviews Disclosure Policy, Postpones Action on US Reform Ideas.”
See IFTIWatch online at: http://www.freedominfo.org/ifti.htm.
*Sign-up for regular updates from freedominfo.org at: http://hermes.gwu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=freedominfo&A=1.
WRI ISSUE BRIEF: ALIGNING COMMITMENTS: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, INTERNATIONAL DECISION-MAKING, AND THE ENVIRONMENT:
A May 2003 Issue Brief published by the World Resources Institute (WRI) provides an overview and analysis of public participation policies in three decision-making arenas: multilateral development bank assistance and lending, negotiation of multilateral environmental agreements, and negotiations of trade and regional economic polices. The Issue Brief measures the participation policies using criteria such as access to information/transparency, access to participation, and access to justice.
See the Issue Brief online at: http://governance.wri.org/pubs_description.cfm?PubID=3796.
For more information or to subscribe to receive electronic updates as they are issued, contact:
Jennifer Kalafut
Policy Program / Transparency Program
Bank Information Center
Email:
Web: http://www.bicusa.org
Tel: +1 (202) 624-0630