Critical Perspectives on EBRD "Transition" Investment Priorities in Egypt (Video)

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) was created twenty-one years ago with the purpose of supporting the transition to democracy and market economies in the countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Following the Arab uprisings of 2011, it was tasked by its shareholders, including the United States and the European Union, to assist the "democratic" transitions in the southern and eastern Mediterranean region. Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia and Morocco are the EBRD's primary targets in the immediate future.

One of the main criticisms of current EBRD operations in central and eastern Europe is that the bank focuses too much on economic liberalization and privatization as drivers of democratization and development. Early indications are that the EBRD will follow a similar path in Arab countries, irrespective of the fact that the uprisings in these countries critiqued  the social injustices caused by rash privatization. This short documentary, a joint project of NGOs Platform in the UK and CEE Bankwatch Network, provides insights into what Egyptians think about the EBRD's privatization agenda.