CEB and the European Commission sign new partnership agreement

PARIS - The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), through its Governor, Rolf Wenzel, and the European Commission (EC), through its Director-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (NEAR), Christian Danielsson, have signed a Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA) that allows the two organisations to reinforce their close and fruitful cooperation.

The FFPA provides the framework for all EC-CEB contribution agreements, ensuring alignment between the EC general conditions for the use of European Union (EU) funds and the CEB’s specific standards and procedures as an international financial organisation. As a result, the FFPA will simplify contractual negotiations in connection with concrete funding contributions and will enhance mutual reliance.

Director-General Danielsson said: “The CEB is the social development bank in Europe and represents a key instrument of EU’s policy of solidarity. With this new Framework agreement the Commission (DG NEAR) and the CEB will be able to play a bigger role in jointly supporting actions with clear social impact in Europe’s neighbourhood and in the enlargement countries. Our joint efforts to improve the living situation of people, in particular vulnerable groups, particularly in the COVID-19 recovery phase, is more needed than ever”.

Governor Wenzel said: “The EU is by far our largest donor and this agreement represents a deep commitment from both sides to increase our cooperation and impact. Within the new framework, we will pursue our common goal of improving people’s lives and social cohesion in Europe. With concrete actions ranging from support to social infrastructure and migrant and refugee solutions to climate change mitigation and adaptation, together we have better tools to achieve long-lasting change.”

The EU is the largest donor to the CEB, with more than €520 million contributed to the Bank’s trust funds to date. For instance, the EU is the main donor to the Regional Housing Programme (RHP), to which it has pledged €236 million. The RHP provides homes to vulnerable refugees and internally displaced persons in the former Yugoslavia. The EU has also contributed €50 million to the construction of a state hospital in Kilis, through its Facility for Refugees in Turkey. The hospital will serve both Syrian refugees and their host community. In addition, the EU contributes to CEB trust funds through financial platforms such as the Western Balkan Investment Framework (WBIF), or the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P).