European Investment Bank. Annual report 2000

The committee adopted the report by Olle SCHMIDT (ELDR, S) on the EIB's 2000 annual report. It welcomed the Bank's activities, in particular the financial assistance given to the candidate countries preparing to join the EU. In future, the committee would like the Bank to concentrate on health- and education-related projects in these countries. As far as lending activities in the EU were concerned, the committee wanted to see the Bank contributing to the Lisbon process and backing innovation and knowledge-based projects. It also felt that the profile of the EIB and opportunities for loans to small businesses should be enhanced. It would, however, like to see publicity about the EIB expanded to include information given in more than three languages. Furthermore, information on the EIB's evaluation of projects should be made more widespread. On the question of supervising the EIB's borrowing and lending activities, the committee insisted on proper prudential supervision by a competent body. This could be the European Central Bank but if Council could agree on this, then the issue should be taken up at the forthcoming Inter-Governmental Conference. The report also emphasised the importance of providing financial assistance for environmental projects and the need for a proper environmental impact assessment study to be taken into account before loans for projects were approved. The committee would also like to see employment impact studies. �