3 June is a highlight in the calendar of the European Investment Bank as it marks the date of the conference EIB Financing of Municipalities in Poland. The event will be held in the Polish city of Katowice and delegates will be welcomed by high-level members of the EIB in addition to Ms Elzbieta Suchocka-Roguska, Undersecretary of State, Polish Ministry of Finance, Mr Piotr Uszok, Mayor of Katowice and President of the Union of Polish Metropolies and Mr Miroslaw Czekaj, Deputy President of Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego.
Substantial investment and long term planning is still required to enhance the further development of municipal infrastructure. The event's aim is to outline the role the European Investment Bank can play in providing sustainable financing to local governments ensuring the continued development of municipal infrastructure. Through panel discussions and case studies, speakers will address the role of the EIB and EU Grants in supporting municipal investments as well as the role of local partner banks. The conference offers an opportune moment to meet senior EIB executives and sector experts.
The European Investment Bank, the long-term financing arm of the EU, has been active in Poland since the early 90s, assisting the smooth integration into the Union both pre and post accession by lending in total of EUR 9 bn to projects in the country. In 2004, EIB's annual activity in Poland increased 25% to EUR 1.7 billion placing Poland No. 6 recipient country behind the big-five old Member States in the year of accession. For the coming future dynamic growth is expected, also in the area of municipal financing.