Belgian-based energy investment company Green Invest has come under pressure from civil society groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) for lawsuits filed against local BiH activists, Euractiv reports.
The case relates to the construction of a hydropower plant on the Kasindolska river, of which the Belgian investor is a stakeholder, alongside BiH company BUK d.o.o.
Since the start of construction in 2017, several Bosnian-Serb activists have decried the plant's potential negative impact on the environment and an alleged breach of existing permits, which are intended to control deforestation and soil erosion.
In response to criticism, Green Invest and its BiH partner have filed three defamation lawsuits against the local activists, as well as threatening to pursue further legal action. These suits have been regarded by the activists as Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPP), whereby powerful companies leverage their legal resources to intimidate activists and censor criticism through often lengthy legal proceedings.
“The lawsuit is a clear attempt to silence them and discourage others from speaking out,” Lejla Kursturica, activists from environmental organisation ACT, told Euractiv.
An open letter, signed by 140 organisations and groups from BiH and across the world, has now called on the Head of the EU Delegation in BiH and diplomatic representatives of Belgium to voice concern over Green Invest and BUK’s actions.
The letter claims that the plant has been operating without the necessary permits for “some time” and at the expense of the river and local communities, contrary to EU law.
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Green Invest denies that it had not complied with local permits and environmental regulations.
Co-founder and CEO of Green Invest, Emmanuel Berryer, told Euractiv that its investments within the BiH managed in “good understanding with the population.” Berryer also claims that the lawsuits were targeted at “stopping the defamation” made towards the company.
Hydropower investments in the Balkans have faced repeated criticism for their sustainability within the context of climate change in the region. The construction of these projects can potentially lead to significant damage to the local environment.
Green Invest is now being urged to drop the lawsuits. The open letter has called on the company to instead “constructively engage with the activists and the affected community.”
