>@EIB/Julien Millet

Banque Postale and the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced on 20 November 2014 that they are committing €300 million to support three major national programmes launched by the French Government: the Hospitals of the Future plan, the Very High Speed Broadband programme and the Schools and Youth Employment programme. A first €100 million credit line was signed on Thursday 20 November 2014 by Banque Postale’s CEO Rémy Weber and EIB Vice-President Philippe de Fontaine Vive in support of the Hospitals of the Future plan.

The signing of this first credit line is a ground-breaking event: it is the first time that Banque Postale has partnered with the EIB in France to support projects carried out by local authorities and healthcare establishments in the heart of the regions in the key sectors of health, training, youth employment and very high speed broadband. The loan will provide local authorities and healthcare establishments with easy access to finance on the EIB’s favourable terms.

Specifically, the signing of this first credit line will contribute to the modernisation of dozens of public and private healthcare establishments, enabling them to improve their offer, quality of care, performance of healthcare services and hospital comfort throughout France.

EIB Vice-President Philippe de Fontaine Vive welcomed the signing of the agreement, saying: “I am delighted to sign this first loan agreement with Banque Postale in a key sector for the people of France: health. It is by sharing resources and skills that we will ensure the return of growth and employment in the heart of our regions. This is the way that we will create the best conditions for sustainable investment resolutely geared to the future.”

Banque Postale’s CEO Rémy Weber added: Through this partnership, Banque Postale, as a regional development bank, will be able to further improve its offer for the local public sector and healthcare establishments”.

Credit lines of €100 million each for the “Schools and Youth Employment” and “Very High Speed Broadband” programmes will be signed with La Banque Postale shortly. The first will enable local authorities to make the necessary investment in building and refurbishing schools to improve young people’s training and living conditions and give them the best chance of having a successful professional career. The second will allow them to participate in the rollout of the fibre network throughout the country – the target being for all French households to have access to very high speed broadband by 2022.