EIB Vice President Jonathan Taylor has met with his Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) climate Vice President counterparts from the World Bank, AfDB, AsDB, EBRD and IADB. The meeting noted the good progress on MDBs' joint work on the climate mainstreaming principles, leverage/mobilisation, and tracking of climate finance. There was full agreement with VP Taylor's comment that the MDBs should collectively ensure that momentum should be maintained at this critical moment for climate finance.
Vice President Taylor also met with Rachel Kyte, the newly appointed CEO of SE4ALL. Ms Kyte is one of the global 'climate warriors', well known to the EIB in her previous role World Bank Vice President responsible for climate. Ms Kyte briefed the EIB on a number of reforms and action programmes she was introducing to the SE4ALL. Acknowledging the importance of the EIB as a financing partner on the climate agenda she expressed her strong hope to see cooperation between SE4ALL and the EIB increase and strengthen, especially with regard to energy efficiency. As an early step SE4ALL will seek the EIB's comments on a new strategy to be announced in June in good time for COP22.
EIB Group opens country office in Belgium to support strategic investments in Belgian economy
The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group has opened a country office in Belgium, dedicated to sustaining strategic financing and sustainable growth in the country as a boost to the potential of the vibrant, dynamic and highly innovative Belgian business environment. The new office will be hosted in the Group’s Permanent EU Representation in Brussels and led by Torsten Brand, a dual Belgian-German national who has worked at the EIB for the past decade. The step by the Luxembourg-based EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), underscores its commitment to supporting the Belgian economy and deepening engagement with local businesses and the public sector.