Luxembourg, 05/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - After the annual session of the Board of Governors of the European Investment Bank (EIB), held on Tuesday, the president of the banking institution, Philippe Maystadt, announced that the EIB should carry out a capital increase by 2003. He specified that the EIB's strategy would be more selective and geared to pursuing the aims fixed by the European Council. "The bank will concentrate still more on the quality of its loans activity, in areas where the added value that it gives may be clearly underscored", he said. The key sectors for intervention will be the trans-European networks, the environment, small and medium-sized companies, the areas under the Innovation 2000 initiative (mainly human capital), and the projects for regional development. The capital increase should be decided in June 2002 to be implemented during the year 2003. It should be self-financed by the bank without exceeding the 75% ceiling for capital. According to one EIB official, EU Member States, EIB shareholders, consider this capital increase to be justified.