Brussels, 19/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - Euro Commissioner Olli Rehn has called for an increase in the capital of the European Investment Bank (EIB) so that it can invest more in promising areas of growth in Europe. He was speaking in a plenary debate at the European Parliament on the sovereign debt crisis on Wednesday 18 April 2012 (see EUROPE 10597). “To allow the EIB to do more for growth and jobs, its capital needs to be addressed, i.e. its capital base needs to be increased. This must be done by its shareholders, the member states. A capital increase of €10 billion would allow the EIB to lend approximately € 60 billion, which, in turn would, attract other financing sources for a total investment of €180 billion for new projects. The Commission and the EIB are currently looking at possible options for using the EU budget to leverage EIB group financing capacity through risk-sharing schemes. We can build on schemes already developed for research and innovation and with the project bonds for infrastructure, as well as for SMEs with the help of Structural Funds”. (MB/transl.fl)