The European Investment Bank (EIB) is granting a loan of EUR 100 million to the City of Wroclaw to finance investment in the city's road network.

The schemes reflect the City's development priorities and form part of a long-term investment programme. The Bank has earmarked funding for a first group of 10 road projects consisting of the rehabilitation or reconstruction of technically obsolete streets, roads, squares and bridges. Examples include: the Linia rednicowa tramway, Krzywoustego Street, Grunwaldzki Square, Powstánców Wlkopolskich Square and Mosty Warszawskie.

Since 1994, EIB loans to Polish cities have exceeded EUR 600 million. Loans for municipal projects worth approximately EUR 200 million are currently in preparation.

Mr Ivan Pilip, EIB Vice-President responsible for the Bank's operations in Poland and the Czech and Slovak Republics commented: EIB lending to Wroclaw and other Polish cities supports projects which contribute to an improved quality of life for all citizens and makes them more competitive in attracting foreign investment.

The EIB, the European Union's financing institution, funds projects that contribute to the integration, balanced regional development and economic and social cohesion of the EU Member States. Outside the Union, the EIB implements the financial components of agreements concluded under European development aid and cooperation policies.

Over the past five years, the EIB has channelled a total of some EUR 23 billion into projects with a direct impact on improving the environment and quality of urban life in Europe. Nearly EUR 3 billion of this total has gone specifically to social housing projects, EUR 10 billion to development, renovation, modernisation and improvement schemes for buildings and infrastructure, and EUR 10 billion to urban public transport.