Brussels, 24/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - Following on from the comments of one of its vice-presidents, Philippe de Fontaine Vive (see EUROPE 10297), the European Investment Bank (EIB) said in a press release on Friday 21 January that it was paying close attention to the aspirations expressed by the Tunisian people and was “more than ever convinced of the importance of its mission: in order to put down sustainable roots in society, democracy must be based on economic growth and a development policy offering improved prospects for everybody. Alongside the European Commission and in concert with all other financing institutions, the EIB stands ready to help Tunisia achieve its economic and social priorities,” the press release went, noting that the EIB has been very active in Tunisia for over 30 years. (O.L./transl.rt)