Luxembourg, 02/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted a 106.6 million euro loan to the Concessionaire Attiki Odos S.A. (AO) in view of the completion of the new Athens peripheral motorway. The loan is the last tranche of a larger facility of EUR 998 million approved by the EIB in July 1996 and May 2000, and is being made available to AO, as well as to the Hellenic Republic. The new Athens peripheral motorway, will relieve the city centre from through traffic and provide access to the "Eleftherios Venizelos" airport. It will contribute to creating a healthier environment in the Greek capital. This motorway is part of the PATHE main road axis supported jointly by the EIB and the Community Support Framework (CSF II). The PATHE axis is a key project included in the priority list of Trans-European Network projects approved by the Essen European Council.