The operational priorities of the European Investment Bank

SUMMARY

As the EU bank, the European Investment Bank (EIB) provides finance and expertise for sound and sustainable investment projects in Europe and beyond. Owned by the 28 EU countries, the projects it supports contribute to furthering EU policy objectives. The bank’s priorities going forward are reflected in the corporate operational plan 2015-2017.

WHAT DOES THE OPERATIONAL PLAN 2015-2017 DO?

Approved in April 2015, it details how the EIB plans to best use its resources to fund projects, including support provided under the investment plan for Europe, expected to be underwritten by an additional guarantee from the EU budget.

KEY POINTS

Investing to restore EU competitiveness

The EIB remains well placed to support investment growth, reinforce economic and social cohesion, sustain employment and play a critical role in restoring EU competitiveness.

It continues to be very responsive to the economic environment and prove its role as the EU bank. This was underlined with the €10 billion capital increase approved in 2012. This enables additional financing of viable investment projects in the range of €180 billion between 2013 and 2015 across the EU, with a focus on projects aiming at sustainable long-term growth and employment. The EIB is on track to deliver, and even exceed, these objectives and intends to continue in its important catalytic role to resolve the EU’s current investment and competitiveness challenges.

The EIB plans to maintain significant lending volumes throughout the 2015-2017 period, including sizeable anti-cyclical contributions to support investment activities in the EU.

Outside the EU, the bank will stay firmly engaged to support EU policy and continue to promote private sector-led growth, both by supporting access to finance for SMEs and much needed economic and social infrastructure and by providing advice and technical assistance.

A strategic partnership between the EIB and the European Commission

The European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) is a strategic partnership between the European Commission and the EIB, deployed by the EIB Group (EIB and European Investment Fund — EIF), to address market failure by helping reduce the risk inherent in projects to encourage further investment.

The EIB will contribute €5 billion to the new initiative, alongside a €16 billion guarantee from the EU budget. This will allow EFSI to unlock additional investment of at least €315 billion over the 2015-2017 period.

The value of lending

The EIB lends to public sector bodies and private companies. To receive support the project must further EU objectives and be economically, technically, financially and environmentally sound.

BACKGROUND

Created in 1958, the EIB is the EU bank for long-term loans. In 1994, the EIF was set up to support the development of high-growth small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and/or those active in new technologies. The EIB is the majority shareholder and operator of the EIF. In 2000, the EIB Group was created, consisting of the EIB and the EIF. Within the Group, the EIB grants medium and long-term bank loans, while the EIF specialises in venture-capital operations and providing guarantees for SMEs.

ACT

European Investment Bank Group: operational plan 2015-2017, 8 May 2015

RELATED ACTS

Article 309 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)

Regulation (EU) 2015/1017 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2015 on the European Fund for Strategic Investments, the European Investment Advisory Hub and the European Investment Project Portal and amending Regulations (EU) No 1291/2013 and (EU) No 1316/2013 — the European Fund for Strategic Investments (OJ L 169, 1.7.2015, pp. 1-38)

last update 15.10.2015