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        <title>EUROPA - Newsroom - Press releases and statements on business</title>
        <description>Press releases</description>
        <language>en</language>
        <link>http://europa.eu/newsroom/press-releases/business/index_en.htm</link>
        <pubDate>Sun, 26 May 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
        <item>
            <title>Système européen de surveillance financière : une avancée majeure à consolider</title>
            <description><![CDATA[Commission européenne Michel BARNIER Membre de la Commission européenne, chargé du Marché intérieur et des Services Audition publique sur la surveillance financière dans l’UE Bruxelles, le 24 mai 2013 Monsieur le Gouverneur, Madame la Présidente, Messieurs les députés, Mesdames et Messieurs, Je voudrais tout d’abord vous remercier pour votre participation...]]></description>
            <link>http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/13/452&amp;format=HTML&amp;aged=0&amp;language=FR&amp;guiLanguage=en</link>
            <pubDate>Fri, 24 May 2013 09:45:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>European Commission</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>PRESIDENCY BRIEFING (28/05,13.30) - COMPETITIVENESS Council meeting - Brussels, 29 and 30 May 2013</title>
            <description/>
            <link>http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/intm/137266.pdf</link>
            <pubDate>Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>Council of the EU</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>AGENDA - 3242nd Council session - COMPETITIVENESS - Brussels, 28 and 29 May 2013</title>
            <description/>
            <link>http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/intm/137280.pdf</link>
            <pubDate>Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>Council of the EU</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>IFC, EIB, and AFD Support Small Businesses and Mobilize Investment in MENA</title>
            <description><![CDATA[Amman, Jordan, May 24, 2013— IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, the European Investment Bank (EIB), Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and the European Commission through the  Neighborhood Investment Facility (NIF) are working together to provide funding for small and medium enterprises (SME) in the Middle East and North Africa. IFC is establishing the MENA SME Facility in partnership with the World Bank, International Financial Institutions and donors. Investments of $150 million f...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/projects/press/2013/2013-071-ifc-eib-and-afd-support-small-businesses-and-mobilize-investment-in-mena.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>The LTIC is looking at investment opportunities in Africa “The time has come to start complementing “development finance” by “investment finance” , says EIB President Werner Hoyer.</title>
            <description><![CDATA[The Long-Term Investors Club organized its 5th international conference in Rabat on May 24, 2013 on the theme of Investment Strategies and Opportunities in Africa, attended by many experts from the world of politics and economics.     Mr. Omar Kabbaj, adviser to H.M. King Mohamed VI, Dr. Ulrich Schröder, president of the KFW and the Long-Term Investors Club and Mr. Anass Houir Alami, managing director of the Moroccan Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion, were the opening speakers at this conference ...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/projects/press/2013/2013-072-the-ltic-is-looking-at-investment-opportunities-in-africa-the-time-has-come-to-start-complementing-development-finance-by-investment-finance-says-eib-president-werner-hoyer.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Occupational Pension Funds (IORP): Next steps</title>
            <description><![CDATA[European Commission MEMO Brussels, 23 May 2013 Summary: Commissioner Barnier has indicated his intention to come forward with a proposal for a Directive to improve the governance and transparency of occupational pension funds in the autumn of 2013.]]></description>
            <link>http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/13/454&amp;format=HTML&amp;aged=0&amp;language=EN&amp;guiLanguage=en</link>
            <pubDate>Thu, 23 May 2013 15:13:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>European Commission</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Speech: Sustainability and reporting: Europe at the forefront</title>
            <description><![CDATA[European Commission Michel BARNIER European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services Speech: Global conference on sustainability and reporting (GRI) Amsterdam, 23 May 2013 Ladies and gentlemen, First of all, let me thank the Global Reporting Initiative and its chief executive Ernst LIGTERINGEN for inviting me today.]]></description>
            <link>http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/13/444&amp;format=HTML&amp;aged=0&amp;language=EN&amp;guiLanguage=en</link>
            <pubDate>Thu, 23 May 2013 10:08:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>European Commission</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Making fireworks in the EU safer</title>
            <description><![CDATA[European Commission Press release Brussels, 22 May 2013 The European Commission welcomed today’s adoption by the European Parliament of the Commission proposal to make the internal market for pyrotechnic articles leaner. Further to this vote fireworks will soon become safer to use thanks to new rules requiring clearer labels and...]]></description>
            <link>http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/13/448&amp;format=HTML&amp;aged=0&amp;language=EN&amp;guiLanguage=en</link>
            <pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 12:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>European Commission</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Speech - Débat sur l’Union bancaire</title>
            <description><![CDATA[Commission européenne Michel BARNIER Membre de la Commission européenne, chargé du Marché intérieur et des Services Speech - Parlement européen – Séance plénière Strasbourg, le 21 mai 2013 Madame la Présidente, Mesdames et Messieurs les Députés, Aujourd’hui vous êtes appelés à vous exprimer sur un paquet législatif d’importance majeure pour...]]></description>
            <link>http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/13/438&amp;format=HTML&amp;aged=0&amp;language=FR&amp;guiLanguage=en</link>
            <pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 10:10:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>European Commission</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Italy: EIB and CDP provide EUR 600 million for Emilia-Romagna earthquake recovery</title>
            <description><![CDATA[The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) signed in Rome today a €600 million loan for rebuilding industrial infrastructure in areas hit by the earthquake in Emilia-Romagna one year ago. The EIB was represented by President Werner Hoyer and Vice-President Dario Scannapieco, and CDP by its Chairman Franco Bassanini and CEO Giovanni Gorno Tempini. The ceremony was held on the occasion of the meeting of the heads of the EIB and the CDP group to review their joint act...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/projects/press/2013/2013-070-italia-da-bei-e-cdp-600-milioni-per-il-terremoto-emilia-romagna.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Spain: EIB-ICO: New SME financing agreement</title>
            <description><![CDATA[The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a EUR 500 million loan agreement with the Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO) designed to boost the amount of credit available to SMEs and midcaps (companies with up to 3 000 employees), mainly in the industrial and service sectors. The EIB loan will serve to make long-term, low-interest credit available to SMEs. Under the agreement, ICO undertakes to pass on the financial benefits of the EIB funding to its customers. The resources will be used to ...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/projects/press/2013/2013-068-spain-eib-ico-new-sme-financing-agreement.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Repsol receives EUR 200 million EIB loan for its RDI programme</title>
            <description><![CDATA[The European Investment Bank (EIB) is supporting Repsol S.A.’s research, development and innovation (RDI) programme with a EUR 200 million loan. EIB Vice-President Magdalena Álvarez Arza and Repsol’s CEO Antonio Brufau signed the finance contract in Madrid this morning. The EIB will be financing various activities under the company’s wide-ranging RDI programme comprising i) the optimisation of natural gas transport; ii) improvement of energy efficiency in the oil refining process; iii) develo...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/projects/press/2013/2013-069-repsol-receives-eur-200-million-eib-loan-for-its-rdi-programme.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Speech - Tavola Rotonda ad alto livello sull'acciaio</title>
            <description><![CDATA[Commissione europea Antonio TAJANI Vicepresidente della Commissione europea, responsabile per l'Industria e l'Imprenditoria Speech - Berlaymont / Bruxelles 16 Maggio 2013 Caro Ministri, Colleghi, Amici, Grazie per essere qui.]]></description>
            <link>http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/13/427&amp;format=HTML&amp;aged=0&amp;language=IT&amp;guiLanguage=en</link>
            <pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2013 15:59:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>European Commission</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Swift execution for USD 5 billion 3-year Global benchmark issue</title>
            <description><![CDATA[Today the European Investment Bank (‘EIB’) priced a new Global benchmark issue in the 3-year sector. This is EIB’s second 3-year US Dollar Global and fourth US Dollar Global of the year. The transaction was priced at mid-swaps +4 basis points, in line with initial guidance. The issue pays a semi-annual coupon of 0.500% and has an issue price of 99.804% to give a spread of 21.35 basis points over the 0.250% UST due 15 May 2016. The transaction was announced early in the London afternoon on Tue...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/investor_relations/press/2013/2013-066-swift-execution-for-usd-5-billion-3-year-global-benchmark-issue.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>EUR 215 million for energy in Greece</title>
            <description><![CDATA[The European Investment Bank (EIB) provides EUR 215 million for environmental-friendly energy in Greece with two loans for electricity and natural gas. EUR 190 million go to the Greek Public Power Corporation S.A. (PPC) for promoting energy security and efficiency in Greece.  The investment adds state-of-the-art, extended and efficient electricity transmission and distribution networks throughout the country, allowing inter alia the efficient exploitation of renewable generation sources. It c...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/projects/press/2013/2013-065-eur-215-million-for-energy-in-greece.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>EIB lends CaixaBank EUR 300 million to finance projects of SMEs and midcaps</title>
            <description><![CDATA[The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a EUR 300 million loan agreement with CaixaBank to finance small and medium-scale investment projects promoted by SMEs (with fewer than 250 employees) and midcaps (companies with up to 3 000 employees), along with their working capital needs. CaixaBank is matching this EIB loan with the same amount, meaning that a total of EUR 600 million will be made available for financing such projects. The loan will mainly serve to finance investment in the in...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/projects/press/2013/2013-067-eib-lends-caixabank-eur-300-million-to-finance-projects-of-smes-and-midcaps.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Press information - Signing ceremony for the Agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation concerning cooperation on the application of their competition laws - Brussels, 17 May 2013 at 12.00</title>
            <description/>
            <link>http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/intm/137134.pdf</link>
            <pubDate>Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>Council of the EU</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Poland: EIB increases support for high-speed trains</title>
            <description><![CDATA[The European Investment Bank (EIB) is increasing its loan for PKP Intercity’s Pendolino trains from EUR 224m to EUR 342m. The project consists of the purchase of 20 modern high-speed trains and the construction of an associated maintenance depot in Warsaw. With the increase of financing, the Bank aims to ensure smooth project implementation by completing the financing plan. The high-speed passenger connections will be available between Gdynia, Warsaw and Krakow/Katowice. This section forms pa...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/projects/press/2013/2013-064-poland-eib-increases-support-for-high-speed-trains.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Speech - Remarques introductives sur la Résolution bancaire</title>
            <description><![CDATA[Commission européenne Michel BARNIER Membre de la Commission européenne, chargé du Marché intérieur et des Services Speech - ECOFIN Bruxelles, le 14 mai 2013 Je tiens à saluer les efforts remarquables de la Présidence pour faire avancer ce dossier après le travail réalisé par la présidence Chypriote.]]></description>
            <link>http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/13/408&amp;format=HTML&amp;aged=0&amp;language=FR&amp;guiLanguage=en</link>
            <pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2013 13:04:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>European Commission</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>New Global Navigation Satellite System service centre in Spain to help European users access data</title>
            <description><![CDATA[European Commission MEMO Brussels, 14 May 2013 Galileo and the space industry in general presents a huge opportunity for Europe, not just for companies delivering the space infrastructures but even more for downstream industry, the people who develop innovative applications or services.]]></description>
            <link>http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/13/428&amp;format=HTML&amp;aged=0&amp;language=EN&amp;guiLanguage=en</link>
            <pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2013 12:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>European Commission</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>EIB attaches high importance to small and medium-sized enterprises</title>
            <description><![CDATA[The European Investment Bank (EIB) attaches the highest importance to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in order to promote growth and jobs in Europe. The President of the EIB, Werner Hoyer, stated during the annual meeting of the EIB’s Board of Governors in Brussels: “The EIB sees its support for small and medium-sized businesses in the current economic climate as a number one priority.” Following the EIB’s paid-in capital increase of EUR 10 billion last year, the EU bank will le...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/about/press/2013/2013-063-eib-attaches-high-importance-to-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>EIB supports construction of high-performance power station in Poland </title>
            <description><![CDATA[The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing a PLN 566m (some EUR 140m) loan to Elektrocieplownia Stalowa Wola for the construction of a combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station with an electric capacity of 450 MWe and heating capacity of 240 MWth. This highly efficient power plant will be built on an existing industrial site within the boundaries of the Stalowa Wola power plant in South-Eastern Poland. It will provide electricity to the grid and heat to neighbouring towns as well a...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/projects/press/2013/2013-062-eib-supports-construction-of-high-performance-power-station-in-poland.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Preparation of Economic and Finance Ministers Council, Brussels, 14 May</title>
            <description><![CDATA[European Commission MEMO Brussels, 11 May 2013 The EU's Council of Economic and Finance Ministers will take place in Brussels on Tuesday, 14 May at 11.00. The European Commission will be represented by Olli Rehn, Vice President and Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro, Michel Barnier, Commissioner...]]></description>
            <link>http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/13/421&amp;format=HTML&amp;aged=0&amp;language=EN&amp;guiLanguage=en</link>
            <pubDate>Sat, 11 May 2013 12:30:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>European Commission</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Bank accounts: Commission acts to make bank accounts cheaper, more transparent and accessible to all</title>
            <description><![CDATA[European Commission Press release Brussels, 8 May 2013 In today's world, European citizens cannot fully participate in society without a basic bank account. Bank accounts have become an essential part of our everyday life, allowing us to make and receive payments, shop online, and pay utility bills (telephone, gas, electricity).]]></description>
            <link>http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/13/415&amp;format=HTML&amp;aged=0&amp;language=EN&amp;guiLanguage=en</link>
            <pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2013 12:30:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>European Commission</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Proposal for a Directive on Payment Accounts - Frequently Asked Questions</title>
            <description><![CDATA[European Commission MEMO Brussels, 8 May 2013 See also IP/13/415 1. What does the proposal for a Directive on Payment Accounts1 include? The legislative proposal on Payment Accounts concerns three areas: Comparability of payment account fees: the aim is to make it easier for consumers to compare the fees charged...]]></description>
            <link>http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/13/413&amp;format=HTML&amp;aged=0&amp;language=EN&amp;guiLanguage=en</link>
            <pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2013 12:30:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>European Commission</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs: Benefits for 3200 small business</title>
            <description><![CDATA[European Commission Press release Brussels, 8 May 2013 More than 1600 exchanges have so far been organised under the Erasmus for Young entrepreneurs programme and some 3200 businesses have been created or expanded (including numerous joint ventures and new cross border relations, see MEMO/13/412).]]></description>
            <link>http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/13/414&amp;format=HTML&amp;aged=0&amp;language=EN&amp;guiLanguage=en</link>
            <pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2013 12:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>European Commission</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Commission proposes the signature of the Arms Trade Treaty</title>
            <description><![CDATA[European Press release Brussels, 8 May 2013 Commission The European Commission has today proposed a Council decision authorising EU Member States to sign the treaty on the international trade in conventional weapons, the so-called Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).]]></description>
            <link>http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/13/413&amp;format=HTML&amp;aged=0&amp;language=EN&amp;guiLanguage=en</link>
            <pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2013 12:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>European Commission</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs: new business creator</title>
            <description><![CDATA[European Commission MEMO Brussels, 08 May 2013 Since 2009, Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs enables new entrepreneurs – be they 'would-be' entrepreneurs armed with a credible business plan or entrepreneurs who started their own business in the last three years – to gain valuable skills and experience.]]></description>
            <link>http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/13/412&amp;format=HTML&amp;aged=0&amp;language=EN&amp;guiLanguage=en</link>
            <pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2013 12:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>European Commission</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Social Innovation Prize candidates: Grass roots creation of new businesses</title>
            <description><![CDATA[European Commission MEMO Brussels, 7 May 2013 The current economic crisis has highlighted the necessity for radical change in the way we approach our social and economic challenges. Across Europe millions of people are unemployed, they feel that they are stuck in low-paid jobs or that they have few opportunities...]]></description>
            <link>http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/13/408&amp;format=HTML&amp;aged=0&amp;language=EN&amp;guiLanguage=en</link>
            <pubDate>Tue, 07 May 2013 12:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>European Commission</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Nepal: first EIB loan for renewable energy</title>
            <description><![CDATA[The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted a EUR 55 million (approx. NPR 6.41 billion) loan to the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to finance the construction and operation of the Tanahu Hydropower plant. The finance contract was signed today in Kathmandu by EIB Vice-President Magdalena Álvarez and Nepalese Finance Secretary, Shanta Raj Subedi. This signing takes place exactly one year after the signature of the Framework Agreement between the EIB and Nepal in a ceremony held in Kath...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/projects/press/2013/2013-061-nepal-first-eib-loan-for-renewable-energy.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Windpower in Austria: Energiepark Bruck receives EIB loan</title>
            <description><![CDATA[The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing a EUR 140 million loan to finance wind farms in Lower Austria. A first EUR 28 million instalment was signed today in Bruck by EIB Vice-President Wilhelm Molterer and Dr Thomas Uher, CEO of Austria’s Erste Bank, which will act as the financial intermediary. The loan will finance the construction of wind farms with a total capacity of 150 MW in the Lower Austrian municipalities of Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, Petronell Carnuntum, Höflein, Rohrau, Bruck ...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/projects/press/2013/2013-060-windenergie-in-osterreich-energiepark-bruck-erhalt-eib-darlehen.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Speech: SMEs Finance Forum</title>
            <description><![CDATA[European Commission Antonio TAJANI European Commission Vice-President for Industry and Entrepreneurship SMEs Finance Forum Closing speech/Dublin 2 May 2013 Ladies and gentlemen, Good afternoon. It is a great pleasure to be here.]]></description>
            <link>http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/13/381&amp;format=HTML&amp;aged=0&amp;language=EN&amp;guiLanguage=en</link>
            <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2013 17:45:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>European Commission</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Improving access to finance for SMEs: key to economic recovery</title>
            <description><![CDATA[European Commission Press release Brussels, 2 May 2013 Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) will drive the recovery in Europe, but they need improved and easy access to finance. Over the last few years the European Commission has been constantly working to improve their situation.]]></description>
            <link>http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/13/387&amp;format=HTML&amp;aged=0&amp;language=EN&amp;guiLanguage=en</link>
            <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2013 12:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>European Commission</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Improving access to finance for SMEs: key to economic recovery</title>
            <description><![CDATA[European Commission MEMO Brussels, 2 May 2013 A joint European Commission/European Investment Bank Group report on the activities facilitating access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in 2012 was presented today, at a meeting of the SME Finance Forum, on the eve of an Informal Competitiveness Council on...]]></description>
            <link>http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/13/393&amp;format=HTML&amp;aged=0&amp;language=EN&amp;guiLanguage=en</link>
            <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2013 12:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>European Commission</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>2013 EIB-I Social Innovation Tournament - Applications open until 15 May</title>
            <description><![CDATA[The final event of the Social Innovation Tournament organized by the EIB Institute will take place in Budapest, Hungary − the country of one of the first 2012 winner. The call for innovative projects pursuing fight against social exclusion is open until 15 May 2013. The Social Innovation Tournament is the flagship initiative of the Social Programme of the EIB Institute. It seeks to promote the generation of innovative ideas and identify/reward opportunities promising substantial societal bene...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/about/press/2013/2013-059-2013-eib-i-social-innovation-tournament-applications-open-until-15-may.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>EIB and Millennium bcp sign contract to lend EUR 200 million to Portuguese SMEs </title>
            <description><![CDATA[The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Millennium bcp signed an agreement of EUR 200 million to finance small and medium-sized projects promoted essentially by SMEs and Mid-Cap companies. Millennium bcp is also committed to providing its own resources to beneficiary SMEs, thereby increasing the overall funding available in support of Portugal’s economy, which is undergoing a demanding adjustment program that should be mixed with measures to fuel growth an employment. The loan deployed using E...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/projects/press/2013/2013-054-eib-and-millennium-bcp-eur-200-million-to-portuguese-smes.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>EIB submits SEC Form 18-K</title>
            <description><![CDATA[The European Investment Bank (EIB) has submitted its SEC Form 18-K. To view the document, please go to www.sec.gov . The 18-K has also been posted on the EIB website at the following location: http://www.eib.org/investor_relations/publications/2012-eib-annual-18-k-report.htm
]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/investor_relations/press/2013/2013-057-eib-submits-sec-form-18-k.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Portugal: Azores receive funding for renewable energy and transmission</title>
            <description><![CDATA[The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing a first tranche of EUR 50 million - out of EUR 72,5 million loan - to Electricidade dos Açores S.A. (EDA) in support of the company’s 2011-2016 investment programme. The project will cover investments in the areas of geothermal energy, electricity transmission and distribution and oil-fired generation in the nine islands of the Azores archipelago and will result in the addition of approximately 15,5 MW of generating capacity and the implementati...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/projects/press/2013/2013-052-portugal-azores-receive-funding-for-renewable-energy-and-transmission.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>EIB to provide €200m for Irish SMEs with AIB</title>
            <description><![CDATA[The European Investment Bank has agreed to work with AIB in providing EUR 200 million for investment by small and medium companies across Ireland. This represents the latest EIB support for SMEs in Ireland since an earlier lending programme intermediated by AIB in 2011. The SME initiative, the largest ever engagement by the European Investment Bank to support Irish small business, was signed at AIB Headquarters in Dublin, today (Monday, April 29 th ) by AIB Chief Executive, David Duffy, and t...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/projects/press/2013/2013-053-eib-to-provide-eur200m-for-irish-smes-with-aib.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Amadeus: second loan to deliver further innovation in travel</title>
            <description><![CDATA[Amadeus receives unsecured loan of €150 million with a nine year maturity to finance R&amp;D activities in its Distribution business line between 2013 and 2015

The European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Union’s long-term financing institution, has granted a second loan for Amadeus IT Group, S.A., subsidiary of Amadeus IT Holding S.A. (Amadeus: “AMS.MC”), a leading technology partner for the global travel industry, with the latter acting as the guarantor of the transaction.

The unsecur...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/projects/press/2013/2013-058-amadeus-second-loan-to-deliver-further-innovation-in-travel.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>EIB President Werner Hoyer in talks in Vienna – continued joint efforts to boost growth</title>
            <description><![CDATA[The President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Dr Werner Hoyer, is taking part in political discussions in Vienna today and tomorrow, Friday and Saturday 26/27 April. Accompanied by EIB Vice-President Wilhelm Molterer, responsible for lending operations in Austria, Dr Hoyer is meeting with high-level Government representatives and representatives of the Austrian business community. The programme includes talks with Dr Michael Spindelegger, Austria’s Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister ...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/about/press/2013/2013-055-eib-prasident-werner-hoyer-zu-gesprachen-in-wien-wachstumsbemuhungen-weiter-gemeinsam-vorantreiben.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>New key stage of the safety net for the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region: cable-laying begins</title>
            <description><![CDATA[A new key stage has been reached in the work on the three future underground 225 kV connectors, which began ten months ago: transported in a special convoy, the first cables were laid today at the Malpasset site in Fréjus in the presence of Dominique Maillard, Chairman of RTE's Executive Board, and Philippe de Fontaine Vive, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB). Once commissioned in 2015, this safety net will put the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) region on the same level o...]]></description>
            <link>http://www.eib.org/projects/press/2013/2013-056-bei-nouvelle-etape-cle-pour-le-filet-de-securite-electrique-paca.htm?media=rss&amp;language=en</link>
            <pubDate>Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0200</pubDate>
            <category>Business</category>
            <category>EIB</category>
        </item>
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