What are the financing objectives of the EIB?

Within the EU the EIB has 6 priority objectives for its lending activity which are set out in the Bank’s business plan, the Corporate Operational Plan (COP).

• Cohesion and Convergence
• Support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Environmental sustainability
• Implementation of the Innovation 2010 Initiative (i2i)
• Development of Trans-European Networks of transport and energy (TENs)
• Sustainable, competitive and secure energy

The COP is a strategic document, approved by the Board of Directors, for defining medium-term policy and setting operational priorities in the light of the objectives assigned to the Bank by its Governors. It is also an instrument for ex post evaluation of the EIB's activities. The plan spans three years, although the strategic projections may be adapted during this period in order to take account of new mandates and changes in the economic climate.