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Why is the EBRD involved in legal reform?
The position of the EBRD is unique. The Bank promotes transition to market economy, operates as a commercial bank committed to sound banking principles and is the largest investor in the region's private sector. Drawing on this experience, the EBRD's legal transition assistance is grounded on the views and concerns of the private investment community, making the assistance both credible and practical.
Legal reform work also contributes to strategies and financial policies, and helps the Bank promote economic transition throughout the region.
Focus areas
These areas are selected because of their importance to the investment climate. They are also highly relevant to the EBRD's experience and investment strategies:
The programme considers projects and other legal areas if they relate directly to the EBRD's investment strategies or activities.
Activities
For each sector, the Legal Transition Programme engages in:
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Standard-setting: Participating in and contributing to international standard-setting initiatives.
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Assessment of laws and practice: Monitoring and analysing the status of legal transition in countries of operations and developing instruments for assessing legal risk for investments. More about Assessment of laws and practice.
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Outreach: Advancing legal reform through outreach activities including the legal journal Law in transition, the legal roundtable at the Annual Meeting and participation in various seminars.
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Technical assistance: Developing and implementing technical assistance projects to support local authorities to establish investor friendly laws and sound institutions. The List of legal reform projects
 (0.2Mb) includes projects since 1996 and is updated twice a year.
Administration
The Legal Transition Programme is part of the EBRD's Office of the General Counsel. The team manages the EBRD’s legal reform work and related legal technical assistance projects. It also works closely with the Bank's project-focused lawyers to identify and overcome legal impediments to investments.
Funding
Donor grants from the EBRD's shareholders and other official bodies are the programme's primary funding source. In addition, lawyers and other professionals in private practice and in academia provide their services at a discounted rate or on a pro bono basis. The programme accepts practical support such as fellowship funding, training facilities and event publicity.
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