Project approvals

PARIS - During CEB’s annual Joint Meeting in Malta, the Administrative Council approved nine loan requests of a total amount of € 333 million. Eight of the nine projects, or 98% of the total loans, are located in target group countries.

Following is the list of approved loans, according to their sectoral focus:

• In response to the crisis, the CEB continues to mobilise itself in favour of job creation and preservation, by making it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to gain access to credit. Priority is given to enterprises located in target group countries where needs are most acute.
  

Croatia: € 90 million to HBOR, the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development, to co-finance investments in the sectors “Creation and preservation of viable jobs” in SMEs and of “Improving living conditions in urban and rural areas”.

Georgia: € 23 million to JSC TBC Bank, one of the leading banks in Georgia, to co-finance productive investments by start-ups and SMEs.

Poland: € 90 million to SG Equipment Leasing Polska Sp. z o.o., to co-finance productive investments by micro-enterprises and SMEs, and to part-finance the up-grading of medical equipment in hospitals and health centres

Serbia: € 20 million to Société Générale Banka, to co-finance productive investments by SMEs.

Slovenia: € 45 million to UniCredit Banka, to co-finance productive investments by start-ups, micro-enterprises and SMEs.

"The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia": € 8 million to Ohridska Banka AD Société Générale Group, to part-finance investment projects by SMEs in order to improve the quality and efficiency of their production, to preserve current jobs and to create new employment opportunities.

• The CEB also helps develop education and vocational training, and strengthen the rule of law by financing the administrative and judiciary infrastructure, in line with the values of the Council of Europe.
  

Republic of Moldova: € 39 million to the Government, to co-finance along with EU grants the construction of a new penitentiary centre in Chisinau to replace the existing centre, now dilapidated and insalubrious.

Montenegro: € 10 million to the Government, to co-finance the renovation and construction of pre-school infrastructure in four municipalities.

Spain: € 8 million to CaixaBank S.A., to provide bridge financing to the activities of the ACCEDER programme, which focuses on helping disabled persons, immigrant populations and the Roma minority.