EIB Considers Expanding Lending to Support EU Defence, Energy, and Competitiveness
European Investment Bank's Lending Strategy and Future Outlook
Current Lending Capacity and EU Priorities
LONDON, June 16 (Reuters) - There is space to increase the lending of the European Investment Bank as the bank seeks to help finance multiple European Union priorities from defence to energy and competitiveness, EIB President Nadia Calvino said on Tuesday.
Shareholder Perspectives and Lending Impact
In an interview at the Reuters NEXT Europe summit, Calvino said however, that EU governments, which are the EIB's owners, for now focus more on the impact of the existing lending, encouraging more risk-taking and influence in these areas.
Potential for Increased Lending Volume
"There are a number of limits, but there is space to do it," Calvino said when asked if the bank's current lending ceiling of 100 billion euros could be increased.
Focus on Impact and Strategic Sectors
"Our shareholders ... last week ... were very much insisting, not so much on doing more volumes, but rather to have more impact, more risk-taking, and more influence and impact in those areas that matter - tech leadership, security, and defence, competitiveness," she said.
EIB's Role in Green Investments
The EIB, the world's biggest multilateral lender, borrows on the markets with its AAA credit rating to lend for various projects -- mainly investments linked to shifting the EU's economy to green energy to prevent climate change.
Further Information and Coverage
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(Reporting by Alessandra Galloni, Marc Jones in London and Jan Strupczewski in Brussels; editing by Philip Blenkinsop)
