Poland contributes to the CEB Migrant and Refugee Fund

21 December 2015

PARIS - The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) welcomes Poland’s contribution of PLN 430 000 (approximately € 100 000) to the Bank’s Migrant and Refugee Fund (MRF).

The MRF is the CEB’s new financial instrument set up to support member countries in coping with the influx of migrants and refugees. The CEB endowed the MRF with € 5 million and invited donors to contribute funds with a view to reaching an amount between € 20 to 25 million.

So far MRF funds have been used to finance projects in Serbia, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and Slovenia. Priority is given to the financing of reception and transit centres in countries receiving migrants and refugees.

CEB Governor Rolf Wenzel said: “I would like to thank Poland for its generous contribution, which demonstrates its commitment to the principle of solidarity between European states and peoples.”

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.