FAQ - Structure and Organisation
The Bank receives many requests for information and certain questions recur regularly. Please check if your query can be answered by one of the links below.
For further information, please send a message to info@eib.org.
How is the EIB governed?
The EIB is governed by the:
- Board of Governors - usually the Finance Ministers of the Member States
- Board of Directors - 28 members representing each Member State and the European Commission. There are 16 Alternates, meaning that some of these positions will be shared by groupings of States. The Board also has the right to co-opt a maximum of 6 experts (3 Directors and 3 Alternates), who will participate in the Board meetings in an advisory capacity, without voting rights.
- Management Committee - the President of the EIB and 8 Vice Presidents
- Audit Committee - 3 members and 3 observers appointed by the Board of Governors
For further information on this and the structure of the services within the EIB, please see the EIB Organisation Structure pages on the website.
What is the EIB?
Established under the treaty of Rome in 1957 and created in 1958, the European Investment Bank (EIB) is the European Union's long-term lending institution. As a policy-driven Bank, the EIB supports EU priority objectives, notably European integration and social cohesion, through its financing operations.
What is the EIB Group?
The EIB Group was established in 2000, consisting of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF).
The EIF was established in 1994. It provides venture capital and guarantees for small and medium enterprises (SME). In June 2000, the EIF's Statutes were restructured and its shareholding structure was modified (with the European Investment Bank becoming majority shareholder) so as to endorse the role of the EIF as the exclusive vehicle for venture capital of the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Where are the headquarters of the EIB?
The EIB is based in Luxembourg:
100, boulevard Konrad Adenauer
L-2950 Luxembourg
Tel: +352 43 79 - 1
Fax: +352 43 77 04
E-mail: info@eib.org
Map showing how to access the EIB by road.
The EIB has regional offices in a number of locations both inside and outside the EU (List of offices)
Who are the owners of the EIB Group?
The EIB is an international financial institution, a publicly owned bank. Its owners are the Member States of the European Union, who subscribe to the Bank's capital - EUR 164 billion. As shareholders the Member States are represented on the Bank's main independent decision-making bodies - the Board of Governors and the Board of Directors.
The EIB is the EIF's majority shareholder (62%). Other shareholders are the European Commission (30%) and some twenty EU private banking institutions (8%).
Who is the President of the EIB?
The current President of the EIB is Philippe Maystadt (Belgium)
Former presidents are:
- Sir Brian UNWIN (UK), April 1993 - December 1999
- Ernst-Günther BRÖDER (DE), August 1984 - March 1993
- Yves LE PORTZ (FR), September 1970 - July 1984
- Paride FORMENTINI (IT), June 1959 - September 1970
- Pietro CAMPILLI (IT), February 1958 - May 1959