News
The CEB celebrates its 70th anniversary at the Quai d’Orsay
08 September 2026
Paris – The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) was hosted on 3 September at the Minister’s Residence for Europe and Foreign Affairs, at the Quai d’Orsay, to celebrate its 70th anniversary. More than 250 current and retired staff members took part in this anniversary celebration.
The Bank maintains close and fruitful cooperation with France, which has been its headquarters since its inception in 1956. Since 1956, this strong cooperation has resulted in the approval of nearly 7 billion euros in funding for France, through 64 projects supporting vital investment in education (24%), health (20%), social housing (14%) and public infrastructure.
This cooperation has been further strengthened over the last ten years, with more than €3.3 billion in funding approved for the benefit of local authorities, the local public sector, financial institutions and organisations in the social and solidarity economy.
CEB funding supports, for example:
- the refurbishment of schools in Marseille
- the modernisation of public transport in Nantes
- improvements to water and sewerage networks in Lille and the Île-de-France region
- housing solutions tailored to the needs of vulnerable people.
“These celebrations mark our renewed commitment to social cohesion and stability in Europe. They also open up new avenues for collaboration,” emphasised Eléonore Caroit, Minister of State for the Francophonie, International Partnerships and French Nationals Abroad attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in a video message released for the occasion.
“The CEB has helped put Paris on the international development map, notably by playing an active role in reforming the international financial architecture,” said Martin Briens, Secretary-General of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. “The CEB has also become a key partner for our local authorities.”
The CEB intends to continue and step up its work alongside France, in order to continue supporting the implementation of the priorities identified in the regions, in line with public policies defined at national and local level.
In thanking the French authorities for their hospitality, Governor Carlo Monticelli highlighted the symbolic significance of holding such celebrations in the Salon de l’Horloge of the Quai d’Orsay, where Robert Schuman, one of the founding fathers of Europe, delivered his historic declaration in 1950:
“Europe will not be made all at once... it will be built through concrete achievements, creating first of all a de facto solidarity.”
“These words reflect the CEB’s day-to-day work over the past 70 years,” said the Governor. “Investing in people and strengthen social cohesion in Europe – that is our mission. Today, we celebrate seven decades of commitment with humility, ambition and determination, looking resolutely to the future.”
Press contact
Jelica Vesic - Communication Unit - cebcommunications@coebank.org
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) is a multilateral development bank with an exclusively social mandate from its 43 member countries. The CEB finances investment projects and provides technical assistance in social sectors such as education, health and affordable housing, while focusing on the needs of vulnerable people, as well as on the social dimensions of climate change and the environment. Borrowers include governments, local and regional authorities, public and private banks, non-profit organisations and others. The CEB, which has a triple-A credit rating, funds itself through international capital markets. In addition, the CEB receives funds from donors to complement its activities.
Contact
- Jelica Vesic Communications Officer cebcommunications@coebank.org