The EIB Group was established in 2000 to finance investment, giving practical expression to the European Union objectives. It consists of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF). The two institutions share their expertise to support and promote small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Within the Group, the EIB provides long and medium-term bank loans to large capital investment projects. In addition, the Bank promotes SMEs through medium and long-term credit lines to intermediaries in the banking sector, and venture capital activities in Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP), in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP). The EIF concentrates on investments in innovative SMEs in the EU and the Enlargement area, through venture capital funds and SME guarantee operations involving its own resources or those of the EU budget. The benefits of the cooperation between the two European institutions at an operative level are the availability of large amounts over long terms at favourable financing cost, which is established not only on a market basis but also on a non-profit-making basis. The Group operates not only in the EU, but also in over 150 countries outside the Union, in particular in the candidate countries, in the Balkans and in Africa, in the Caribbean and in the Pacific.

Link: http://www.eib.org/about/group/index.htm
Editor: Bianca GIANNINI
© 2010 ASSONEB