Brussels, 19/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 18 March, the European Commission decided to allocate €200 million to the Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF) to stimulate investment in the energy and transport sectors of EU neighbourhood countries. The combination of EU subsidies and loans from EU development banks should enable energy and transport projects to be developed so as to establish infrastructure interconnections between the EU and neighbouring countries, and also between neighbouring countries themselves. This combination of subsidies and loans will also support projects that focus on the common challenges of climate change, and the promotion of growth and small enterprises.
Started in May 2008, the NIF has so far supported 69 projects for a total investment of around €18.4 billion. For the 2007-2013 period, €745 million in European subsidies has been allocated. The NIF brings together European subsidies, subsidies from member states, loans from European public finance institutions and the participation of partner countries. (CG/transl.fl)