CLIMATE ADAPTATION & FLOOD SAFETY EMSCHER-LIPPE

The project concerns the financing of part of EGLV's 2025-2029 investment programme for its two entities Emschergenossenschaft (EG) and Lippeverband (LV) and concerns restoration measures in the Rivers Emscher and Lippe, as well as improvements in the sewage and storm water collection and treatment infrastructure.

The project concerns the financing of parts of the 2025-2029 investment programmes of the Emschergenossenschaft (EG) and the Lippeverband (LV). The investments consist of restoration measures for the rivers Emscher and Lippe in North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW), as well as improvements in the sewer and stormwater collection and treatment.

The Project concerns the financing of part of the 2025-2029 investment programmes of the Emschergenossenschaft (EG) and the Lippeverband (LV). They are separate, similarly organised not-for-profit organisations, managed through one company (EGLV) that provides flood protection, wastewater and stormwater management services to municipal governments and companies in the catchment area of the Emscher and Lippe Rivers in North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW), Germany. Together they serve 3.67m people. The investments will enhance flood protection, make improvements in the river systems, reduce the discharge of sewage water to the rivers and improve the efficiency of the wastewater collection and treatment system and thus contribute to a clean environment and healthy rivers.

The Project contributes to the EU and EIB policy objectives of environmental protection and climate action, and will help mitigate market failures by financing infrastructure that generates positive environmental public health and climate externalities that are not fully reflected in the applicable water and wastewater tariffs in the service area.

The loan extended by the EIB incorporates several features that are expected to deliver strategic benefits to the Borrowers. The loan is expected to contribute to the diversification of the Borrowers' funding base. In addition, the inclusion of a prolonged grace period and an extended maturity structure provides enhanced flexibility in financial planning, allowing for a more effective alignment of debt servicing obligations with the long-term horizon of the Borrower's infrastructure investments.

The overall "Emscher Renaturierung" project - river bed restoration project (i) is driven by the requirement to comply with requirements of the European environmental legislation (Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EC, Floods Directive 2007/60/EC), and (ii) takes into concern environmental and social aspects as required by the European and national environmental and social policy. Several of the works included in the project, such as river restoration works, fall under Annex II of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive 2014/52/EU amending the EIA Directive 2011/92/EU. Environmental Impact Assessment procedures have been carried out where required by the competent authorities and mitigating measures are applied as appropriate. The project will contribute to ensure compliance with key EU directives in the water sector, notably the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) and the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). Where and if applicable and based on a risk-based approach as defined in the EIBG E&S Policy, the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 2011/92/EU as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU, Birds Directive 2009/147/EC and Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC will be verified during appraisal. The Bank's appraisal will focus on the Promoter's environmental management capacity to properly apply these EU Directives.

The Bank will require the promoter to ensure that contracts for implementation of the project have been and will be tendered in accordance with the applicable EU procurement legislation, Directive 2014/25/EU as well as Directive 92/13/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. The promoter's selected main suppliers/contractors for the implementation of the envisaged operation are not yet available.