Luxembourg, 13/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank has placed a further tranche of FF 75 million (11.4 million euro) at the disposal of the "EIB Venture Capital Fund" managed by the Caisse des Depots et Consignations, in France. This is the third tranche of a total share of FF 300 million. This "EIB Fund" complements the "Fonds Publique pour le Capital-Risque" (FPRC) of FF 600 million created by the French State in 1998 within the Caisse de Depots. The beneficiaries are the national or regional funds that use them in turn to support innovative small and medium-sized in the high-tech sector. On 31 December 1999, the EIB Funds and FPCR had committed FF 625 million in 15 Fonds Communs de Placement a Risques.