Luxembourg, 08/06/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank has decided to grant a loan of EUR 100 million over 20 years to the Czech bank, Konsolidacni Banka (KOB), to finance a number of water supply and wastewater schemes across the Czech Republic. "The EIB and the Czech authorities, namely the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Finance and KOB joined forces to develop a mechanism for channelling suitable funding to smaller towns and regional entities undertaking urgent investment into the modernisation of the water sector throughout the country", stressed EIB Vice-president Wolfgang Roth, who recalled that the EIB is providing assistance to allow applicant countries to adjust to the Community's environmental norms.