The European Investment Bank and the water and sanitation sector

The European Investment Bank (EIB) supports capital projects that in a practical concrete way promote the objectives of the European Union (EU). Environmental protection and improving people’ s welfare are one of the Bank’s key priorities, for which it earmarks between 25% and 35% of its annual lending in the Member Countries of the Union. In 2005, the environment accounted for 33% of individual lending for major projects in the EU-25, 56% in the Acceding and Accession Countries and 22% in other partner countries.

The EIB’s individual direct loans for capital investment in the water and sanitation sector in 2005 amounted to EUR 2 113 million, of which EUR 1 882 million in the EU-25, EUR 43 million in the Acceding and Accession Countries and EUR 189 million in the partner countries.