RENOVATION CAMPUS FRANCE

The Lending Envelope concerns investments in the construction, renovation, and rehabilitation of education and research infrastructure at several public universities located in France.

The proposed lending envelope is designed to assist public universities in France in improving readiness to contribute to the European Higher Education Area and the European Research Area by strengthening its teaching and research capabilities. Accordingly, the project is consistent with EU actions aimed at increasing investment in research and human capital formation in a member state. With the exception of the capital region Île de France and the Rhône-Alps region, all regions concerned by the lending envelope are EIB Cohesion Priority Regions. At least 59% of investments under the lending envelope are expected to be carried out in regions classified as transition or developing regions. Part of the cost will be used to improve energy efficiency of the buildings and to reduce energy consumption. As a result, the project will also contribute to the environmental targets of the EU.

The Directive 2011/92/EU amended by 2014/52/EU does not specifically mention the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for buildings relating to education, but it may be that some sub-projects can be regarded as urban renewal projects (Annex II of the European Directive). This will be verified for each sub-operation during the appraisal. Directive 2010/31/EU amended in 2018 by Directive (EU) 2018/844 on the Energy Performance of Buildings will be checked during appraisal for each sub-operation on a case-by-case basis. The possible impact on natural sites will be checked during the appraisal of each sub-operation. The project is expected to contribute to climate action and environmental sustainability (CA&ES) objectives, in particular to climate mitigation and climate adaptation. Social and employment aspects will be checked during appraisal for each sub-operation on a case-by-case basis.

The Bank will require the promoter to ensure that contracts for the implementation of the project shall be tendered in accordance with the relevant applicable EU procurement legislation, Directive 2014/24/EU as well as Directive 89/665/EEC as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the EU, with publication of tender notices in the EU Official Journal, as and where required.