The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending EUR 2 billion to the Polish Government to help meet the objectives of the Polish National Strategic Reference Framework during the period 2007-2013. This is the biggest loan the EIB has granted to a Member State that joined the EU after 2004.

Mr Philippe Maystadt, EIB President, stated: "The current EIB loan, being the historically biggest EIB loan granted in Central and Eastern Europe, will help both to strengthen the competitiveness of Poland and increase the absorption of EU funds as it provides resources to finance the Polish contribution to implementing priority projects receiving support from these funds".

The EIB funds will co-finance projects in the following areas:

  • Innovative Economy: investments in SMEs, including financial engineering, developing innovations in enterprises, improving the business environment and strengthening human resources in science through support for researchers.
  • Human Capital: employment, education, higher education and science, vocational education, social integration and development of public administration capacity.
  • Infrastructure and Environment: implementation of conservation measures for protected areas, including Natura 2000 sites, development of intelligent transport systems, upgrading of public buildings, and restoration of cultural heritage sites.
  • Development of Eastern Parts of Poland: acceleration of the social and economic development of the five regions that figure among the least developed regions in the EU. Support will be given to university infrastructure, innovative investments in SMEs and the construction of a broadband network and the development of tourism infrastructure.

This loan is part of the growing EIB lending activity in Poland, which in 2010 is expected to reach some EUR 5.3 billion of new loans signed with numerous partners in the public and private sectors.

Background:

The mission of the EIB, the European Union's bank, is to contribute to the integration, balanced development and economic and social cohesion of the EU Member States by financing sound investment.

The EIB's lending in Poland is the highest among the countries that joined the EU after 2004. Including the loan signed today the EIB's lending in Poland has reached EUR 4.5 billion in 2010 to date. EIB lending in this country is on a strong upward trend: in 2009 it reached a record level of EUR 4.79 billion representing a 70% increase compared to loan signatures in 2008. Over the last five years, since 2005, EIB loans in Poland have amounted to some EUR 19 billion.