The EIB's Board of Governors has appointed Mr Ivan Pilip to be a Vice President of the European Investment Bank. Mr Pilip had been jointly proposed by the new Member States for a term of three years.

Mr Pilip will be responsible for the Bank's financing operations in Poland, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, the financing of transport, energy and communication networks (Trans-European Networks) and cooperation with the European Commission in the area of co-financing with EU Structural Funds.

As a Vice-President, Mr Pilip will be a member of the EIB Management Committee which consists of a President and eight Vice-Presidents. This Committee is responsible for the current business of the Bank.

Mr. Pilip is looking forward to his new responsibilities: I appreciate very much that I have a possibility to contribute to the economic integration of the new Member States in the EU. I will use my experience gained during my public service and in private business to implement priorities of the EIB focused on a balanced development of the enlarged Union through financing projects fostering the European integration.

Prior to his appointment, Mr Pilip served as Minister of Finance of the Czech Republic in 1997 - 1998. In the period 1994 - 1997 he held the post of Minister of Education. From 1992 to 1994 he was responsible for financing and budget control as Deputy Minister of Education, Youth and Sports.

Amongst his most recent responsibilities figure: Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic (1998-2002), Member of the Budgetary Committee and the Sub-Committee for Financial and Capital Markets as well as Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for Banking.

Mr Pilip is an economist. He has a degree in International Business and Trade from the University of Economics in Prague and pursued post-graduate studies at the Faculty of Economic Policy at the Universidad Complutense in Madrid.

The European Investment Bank, the European Union's financing institution, has the task of supporting EU policies by financing investment. In the new Member States, the Bank is contributing to their economic integration into the EU. The Bank has financed investment in these countries since 1990 with loans totaling EUR 26.5 billion, which makes it their single most important external source of finance.

Apart of the Management Committee, the Bank is directed and managed by a Board of Governors and a Board of Directors:

  • The Board of Governors consists of Ministers of the Member States, usually the Ministers of Finance. It lays down general directives for the credit policy of the Bank.
  • The Board of Directors consists of twenty-six Directors, one nominated by each Member State, and one nominated by the Commission. It decides on granting loans and guarantees and raising funds.