iconannual 2015 - The European Business and Investment Magazine

International Finance & Projects
Mag. Wilhelm Molterer
Vice-President and Member of
the Management Committee of
the European Investment Bank
Foto: European Investment Bank
Foto: European Investment Bank
Last year, 290,000 businesses,
mainly small and medium-sized
companies as well as Mid-Caps, benefitted
from EIB support. Since the
beginning of the crisis in 2007, the
EIB Group, i.e. the EIB and the European
Investment Fund, has provided
more than 500 billion euro in
total for investment across Europe,
mobilising some 1.5 trillion euro of
investment in Europe.
As early as in 1964, the Bank
started its engagement in Central
and Eastern Europe (CEE). The ten
CEE countries that have joined the
EU since 2004 automatically became
EIB shareholders, benefitting
from the full range of EIB financial
instruments and support. As such,
the EIB advisory services have continuously
gained importance, e.g. in
the shape of the project preparation
support offered by JASPERS (Joint
Assistance to Support Projects in
European Regions). Since the accession
of Bulgaria and Romania to the
EU, annual lending to the region has
increased considerably, reaching
its historic peak in 2009, when projects
with a total value of 18 billion
euro were signed. But support is also
provided to those countries still on
the path to EU membership. In candidate
countries, the EIB helps implement
the national development
plans in line with EU standards.
Today – as Europe sees itself taking
on new political and economic
challenges – the EIB is as committed
as ever and stands ready to provide
vital financial and, increasingly so,
advisory support for the benefit of
Europe’s economy and enterprises.
We rely on the business and network
opportunities that help us identify
and understand business needs and
opportunities. Iconvienna does exactly
this. I am looking forward to
our discussions and exchange of
ideas at this year’s Forum.
The European Business and Investment Magazine iconannual 57