The Council of the European Union (known as the Council of Ministers)

EIB attends the meetings of the Ecofin (ECOnomic, FINancial and Budgetary affairs) Council and preparatory bodies, such as the EFC (Economic and Financial Committee), making available its expertise on economic issues and capital investment financing. Moreover, the Council of the European Union frequently requests the EIB to implement new Community initiatives requiring banking or financial instruments.

The members of the Ecofin Council are also, as a general rule, Members of the Bank's Board of Governors (i.e. the Finance Ministers of the Member States), thereby ensuring the consistency of the EIB's financing policies with the economic policy of the Union.