The financing agreement signed on Thursday 11 December 2014 by François Patriat, President of Burgundy Regional Council, Marie-Guite Dufay, President of Franche-Comté Regional Council, and Philippe de Fontaine Vive Curtaz, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), in the presence of Harlem Désir, French Secretary of State for European Affairs, is aimed at supporting the Burgundy and Franche-Comté regions in their priority sectors of training and employment of young people.
This is the first time that the EU bank has signed a finance contract with the Burgundy and Franche-Comté regions – a key agreement for these two entities which are set to merge as part of France's territorial reform. The first of its kind in France, it was negotiated simultaneously with Burgundy and Franche-Comté, offering both regions particularly attractive terms.
Totalling EUR 200m, shared equally between the two regions, it will help cover the construction, refurbishment and modernisation of 86 lycées and training centres. In Burgundy, 62 establishments, including 46 lycées (upper secondary schools), eight apprenticeship training centres (CFA) and four nursing training institutes (IFSI) will benefit. In Franche-Comté, the EIB's support will be used to enhance and modernise 20 lycées, 3 apprenticeship training centres and one maison familiale et rurale (rural training centre) whilst addressing issues such as energy efficiency of buildings, accessibility and the development of digital infrastructure.
"This loan is of symbolic importance for Burgundy and Franche-Comté, which are firmly focused on the future", said EIB Vice-President Philippe de Fontaine Vive Curtaz at the signing ceremony. "The EIB is now, more than ever, supporting the regions' policies in the areas of training and employment of young people. It is by acting together that we will be able to offer future graduates the best possible chance of becoming integrated into society and having a successful career. The recovery of growth and the competitiveness of regions at national and EU level are dependent on this."
François Patriat added that "this agreement is the first symbolic and concrete act illustrating the convergence of policies and pooling of financing resources of the Burgundy and Franche-Comté Regions, which should enable us to prepare the future in a more relaxed fashion."
Marie-Guite Dufay stated: "Working together with Burgundy, Franche-Comté has a better investment outlook and we will be able to map out our future with Europe's assistance."
Harlem Désir rounded off the ceremony: "The agreement signed today between the European Investment Bank and the Burgundy and Franche-Comté Regions underlines the EU's concrete activity alongside our regions, and at the heart of our regions, in support of our young people. It again illustrates the operational potential that the EIB can generate from its EUR 10bn capital increase, approved in the Compact for Growth and Jobs that was endorsed by the French President in June 2012. Over the next five years, dozens of lycées, apprenticeship training centres and other educational infrastructure will therefore be created, extended or refurbished in accordance with environmental requirements. The example set by these activities provides encouragement to go further. That is the aim of the EU's investment plan, which the European Council is set to approve in the coming days."
Photographer: EIB ©To be defined
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