EIB delivers on capital increase – ready to do more

The European Council on 27-28 June decided to launch a new “Investment Plan” and to intensify the fight against youth unemployment by utilizing the financial support of the European Investment Bank (EIB). The President of the EIB, Werner Hoyer, commented: “In addition to successful delivery on the EUR 10 billion capital increase, the EU Bank is committed to support any new initiative that helps to get the economy growing again and to bring young people into employment.  I am particularly keen to deploy additional EIB resources where they have the greatest impact on providing SMEs with better access to finance and fostering jobs, job-related skills and on-the-job training.”

Within the new “Investment Plan” Member States call on the EIB and the European Commission to leverage private sector and capital markets investments to strengthen the SME sector. The President stated that “the EIB will work closely in the coming weeks with the Commission to explore joint risk-sharing financial instruments.” The EU Bank also stands ready to increase the credit enhancement capacity of its subsidiary, the European Investment Fund, which has a special focus on and expertise in the SME sector. Hoyer: “The EIF can build on a broad experience in SME loan portfolio, credit enhancement and securitisation and is in a unique position to develop targeted financial instruments blending EU budget and EIB Group resources.”

The President also emphasised that, “the EIB will do its utmost to support Europe´s fight against youth unemployment”. The EIB will launch with immediate effect a dedicated youth employment programme “Skills and Jobs – Investing for Youth” to help counteract the rapid increase in youth unemployment in Europe.

The programme is based on two pillars. The pillar “Jobs for Youth” will provide SMEs with better access to finance and link EIB financing to the employment of young people in SMEs. The second pillar “Investment in Skills” will support job -related skills and on-the-job-training by investing in educational facilities (universities, research facilities), vocational training programmes, student loans and mobility programmes.

During his discussion with the Heads of States and Governments President Hoyer reiterated that the EIB is on good track with its business plan following the capital increase of EUR 10 billion. Hoyer: “We have delivered and we are delivering with the successful implementation of the capital increase.” He underlined that that “the EU Bank has taken a clear counter-cyclical course and is investing in regions where others have left the markets.” He made it clear that the Bank has a strong focus on small and medium sized enterprises and the knowledge economy but that it will also continue to provide long-term financing in all member states in strategic infrastructure (e.g. broadband technology, energy or transport infrastructure) to improve Europe`s competitiveness on the global markets. He further emphasised that the Bank is developing new products, such as a trade finance scheme for Greece, SME Guarantee programmes and the Project Bonds Initiative that the EIB is currently introducing to the markets in a pilot phase.