CEB to hold its annual Joint Meeting in Strasbourg, launch photo exhibition to mark 60th anniversary

14 June 2016

PARIS – The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) will be holding its annual Joint Meeting later this week. The meeting will take place in Strasbourg, at the invitation of the French government. As in previous years, the event will bring together the members of the Bank’s Governing Board and Administrative Council.

On 17 June, representatives of the CEB’s 41 member countries will meet at the Palais de l’Europe of the Council of Europe for their annual gathering. This will be the CEB’s 51st Joint Meeting since the Bank was established in 1956.

This year the CEB will be looking back on sixty years of activities promoting social cohesion in Europe, and to mark the 60th anniversary of the CEB, Governor Rolf Wenzel will launch a photo exhibition in the lobby of the Assembly Chamber of the Council of Europe on 17 June.

“There are strong ties and an excellent cooperation between the CEB and the Council of Europe,” comments Governor Wenzel, “and we are delighted to be marking our 60th anniversary in Strasbourg. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the French government for offering to host our Joint Meeting this year, and also the Council of Europe for providing a venue for our meetings and photo exhibition.”

Set up in 1956, the CEB (Council of Europe Development Bank) has 41 member states. Twenty-two Central, Eastern and South Eastern European countries, forming the Bank's target countries, are listed among the member states. As a major instrument of the policy of solidarity in Europe, the Bank finances social projects by making available resources raised in conditions reflecting the quality of its rating (Aa1 with Moody's, outlook stable, AA+ with Standard & Poor's, outlook stable and AA+ with Fitch Ratings, outlook stable). It thus grants loans to its member states, and to financial institutions and local authorities in its member states for the financing of projects in the social sector, in accordance with its Articles of Agreement.