Role
The European Investment Bank supports projects in the EU countries, and invests in future member and partner countries.
It borrows money on the capital markets rather than drawing on the EU budget. The money is lent on favourable terms to projects in line with EU policy objectives.
In 2008, the EIB raised nearly €60 bn. The EIB works on a non-profit basis and lends at a rate close to the cost of borrowing.
Services
- Loans: granted to viable capital spending programmes or projects in both the public and private sectors. Recipients range from large corporations to municipalities and small businesses.
- Technical assistance: provided by a team of expert economists, engineers and specialists to complement EIB financing facilities.
- Guarantees: available to a wide range of bodies, e.g. banks, leasing companies, guarantee institutions, mutual guarantee funds, special purpose vehicles and others.
- Venture capital: requests for venture capital should be addressed directly to an intermediary.
Lending within the EU
About 90% of loans go to programmes and projects within the EU.
The EIB has 6 priority objectives for lending, set out in the Bank’s business plan:
- Cohesion and convergence
- Support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
- Environmental sustainability
- Implementation of the Innovation 2010 Initiative (i2i)
- Development of Trans-European transport and energy networks (TENs)
- Sustainable, competitive and secure energy
Outside the EU
The European Investment Bank supports EU development and cooperation policies in partner countries.
Current policy mandates include:
- Southern and eastern Europe
- Neighbourhood policy:
- Development and cooperation countries:
- Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (and Overseas Countries and Territories)
- South Africa
- Asia and Latin America
Structure and organisation
- Shareholders – 27 EU countries
- Governance – working dynamics and responsibilities of the Board of Governors, Board of Directors, Audit Committee and Management Committee
- Control and evaluation – ensuring the integrity and soundness of the Bank’s operations
- Organisation – departments and staff members
