13/09/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 12 September, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Portuguese government signed an agreement for the disbursement of an initial tranche of €100 million in the framework of a loan of €300 million from the EIB to co-fund the financial instrument for urban rehabilitation and regeneration in Portugal, which was set in place in the framework of the EU 2020 partnership agreement and supported by the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund. This loan will benefit Portuguese municipalities with plans for urban regeneration in areas facing degradation. It will also pay for investments in energy efficiency measures in the framework of building rehabilitation. Finally, it will be used to support the emergence of new business locations and job creation at local level. (EH)