Brussels, 19/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - Although Europe has come out of recession, the crisis continues and the European Investment Bank Group (the EIB and the European Investment Fund, EIF) “signficantly stepped up its financial support in 2013 to support growth and jobs in Europe”, said EIB president Werner Hoyer on 19 February at the EIB's annual conference and presentation of the bank's results for 2013. The EIB Group provided strong counter-cyclical support to the economy throughout the year, with financing to the tune of €75.1 billion, an increase of 37 per cent compared to 2012. Within the EU, the amount reached €67.1 billion (an increase of 42 per cent).
The European Investment Bank signed loans worth €18.5 billion for SMEs and mid-caps, while at the same time the European Investment Fund committed €3.4 billion. This allowed the Group, together with private investment partners, to mobilise more than €50 billion to support SMEs. In all, a total of 230,000 companies received direct or indirect support through EIB Group activity. These businesses employ 2.8 million people across Europe. Hoyer stressed the bank's work in the eurozone periphery (Ireland, Portugal, Greece and Cyprus), pointing out that Greece was given €1.465 billion in EIB loans and €57 million from the EIF in 2013.
EIB Group had a clear focus on research and innovation, providing €17.2 billion in financial support to increase the competitiveness of Europe's economy. The Bank is the EIF's majority shareholder and, in order to expand the Fund's role, the EIB Board decided in December 2013 to strengthen the Fund through a capital increase and a wider mandate. Hoyer commented: “The EIF is a very powerful instrument for addressing market gaps by using equity, guarantees and lending products to overcome existing financing constraints for businesses”.
In 2013, the EIB continued to put strong emphasis on other key EU priorities, signing loans worth €19 billion globally for climate action and €15.9 billion for strategic infrastructure. The Bank also rolled out new tailor-made instruments such as the Trade Finance Facility, the SME guarantee fund and project bonds.
In July 2013, the EIB launched a dedicated youth employment programme “Skills and Jobs - Investing for Youth” to complement Europe's fight against youth unemployment. The programme had an initial lending volume of €6 billion. Hoyer commented: “In just six months the EIB has provided loans amounting to EUR 9.1 billion to tackle youth unemployment. This is a major achievement!”
The EIB also continued to play its international role despite the crisis in Europe. In 2013, the Bank provided €7.7 billion to projects outside the European Union. Through its funding activities, the Bank went on to add value as an important means of channelling international investment into the EU, with nearly half of its bonds being placed with investors outside the Union. In 2013, the Bank achieved one of its largest funding programmes ever - €72 billion - remaining by far the largest programme of any supranational financing institution.
The financial strength of the Bank is reflected in its capital adequacy, which improved from 23.1 percent to 28.7 percent in 2013, following a capital increase decided by the Bank's shareholders, the 28 EU member states, in 2012. The asset quality of the Bank remained strong, with impaired loans at just around 0.2% of the portfolio, while liquidity amounting to €66 billion is maintained at prudent levels. Total assets at year-end 2013 stood at €512 billion, while own funds increased to almost €58 billion. Hoyer said this capital increase makes it possible for the EIB to take risks.
Looking ahead, the EIB Group will continue its counter-cyclical support for growth and jobs in Europe. This task is a priority, given the duration and depth of the crisis, which is having negative effects on Europe's long-term growth.
Hoyer says the EU is facing three challenges - unemployment, low investment and low productivity. In the future, the EIB will continue its counter-cyclical support for growth and jobs in Europe. This task is a priority, given the duration and depth of the crisis, which is having negative effects on Europe's long-term growth. Hoyer said: “Investment remains below pre-crisis levels almost everywhere in Europe and is hampering member states' growth potential. Also, we are falling behind in terms of global competitiveness because countries outside the EU are investing at a much higher level in technology and innovation than the EU and the majority of its member states”. Europe must therefore take further action. “We have to invest more. In particular, we have to invest significantly more in research and development, innovation and 21st-century-based infrastructure in order to increase our competitiveness. Today, we still can do this from a position of strength. But if we don't face up to the challenges, we will have a very difficult time, given the global competition”, he warned. (OL/transl.fl)