Key is that the World Bank has not only influence on the actions of borrower countries, but on safeguard systems and processes throughout the world. The changes introduced in the review are likely to have major impacts for years to come on the environmental and social sustainability of Bank and Bank-supported operations, and on development lending more widely.

also issued to Minister of Finance Fekter and Austrian representatives in the National Assembly and the European Parliament.

by Caroline Anstey, Managin Director, World Bank