Funding opportunities

II. EU ACTIVITIES FINANCED OUTSIDE THE EU BUDGET

European Investment Bank (EIB)

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is a major credit provider to the Mediterranean Partners. Between 1974 and 2001, EIB lent a total of € 12.6 billion to these countries. In 2002, the EIB lending in the 12 Mediterranean Partner Countries reached the record figure of € 1.8 billion.

On 18 October 2002, the Finance Ministers of the 15 EU Member States and 12 Mediterranean Partner Countries launched the European Investment Bank's new Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP).

Under FEMIP, the Bank plans to inject € 8 to 10 billion in the Mediterranean Partners by 2006: over € 7 billion from own resources, around € 250 million in risk capital entrusted to it from the EU budget under the MEDA funds, as well as some € 100 million in technical assistance provided by the EU in application of the decisions of the Barcelona European Council of March 2002.

Who might benefit from EIB financing facilities?

The EIB offers various financial services to support projects, depending on eligibility and project category:
" Loans for SMEs through an intermediary (Global loans) for local authorities or firms with fewer than 500 employees and having fixed assets of up to € 75 million.
" Venture capital to strengthen the equity base of high-technology SMEs and those with strong growth potential.
" Direct loans (also known as Individual loans) for promoters in both the public and private sectors, including banks.
" Structured Finance Facility (SFF) for priority projects by complementing the commercial banks and capital markets. (These operations will be undertaken chiefly in the countries of the European Union, but also in third countries.)

How to benefit from EIB financing facilities?

Requests for credits financed in the framework of global loans should be addressed directly to one of the intermediary banks and financing institutions, which operates on the national, regional or local level. Requests for venture capital should be addressed directly to an intermediary (see www.eif.org for the list). Requests for individual loans can be addressed directly to the EIB, without specific formalities, either to its headquarters in Luxembourg, or to one of its external offices.

Where to obtain additional information?

The EIB home page: http://www.eib.org
For EIB activities in the Mediterranean region: http://www.eib.org/lending/med/en/index.htm

For additional information, you may contact Information and Communications Department, European Investment Bank. Telephone: (+352) 4379 3146, fax: (+352) 4379 3189.