The EIB and Europe’s global influence: The future of external lending by the “EU bank” - Main contents

Welcome Cocktail and Registration of Participants

Dinner Debate

Operating in 160 countries, the EIB is not only the largest multilateral lender in the world but also the only EU Bank which delivers support for the EU’s external priorities. The Bank provides finance and technical assistance to projects worldwide, applies EU standards policies to all its operations and as such is uniquely placed to support Europe’ external activities and development efforts by transferring knowledge and experience.

As discussions continue on a new external lending mandate to establish the EIB’s priorities for 2014-2020, it is important to reflect on several questions related to the Bank’s levels of lending and ability to respond quickly and efficiently to a changing global political and economic environment.

What should the EIB role be in sustainable development, job-generation and bolstering the global drive towards poverty alleviation now that grants are declining? The EIB invests in areas such as infrastructure, private sector development and climate action. What are the benefits for project promoters, partner countries and their people? Procedures for development, social and environmental impact assessment and project monitoring: What has been done and is it effective? How can demands for greater Bank transparency, reporting and public consultation be met without increasing bureaucracy and red tape, and without causing business confidentiality breaches? What is the importance of the EU guarantee under the external lending mandate and how does it help the Bank to boost Europe’s role and influence worldwide?

Ivailo Kalfin, Member of the European Parliament Committee on Budgets

David O'Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer at the European External Action Service (EEAS)

Representing the EIB:

Tamsyn Barton, Director General for Operations Outside the EU at the European Investment Bank (EIB)/Ben Knapen, Permanent Representative of the European Investment Bank (EIB) in Brussels

Co-moderated by Giles Merritt, Secretary General of Friends of Europe and Shada Islam, Director of Policy at Friends of Europe