Luxembourg, 09/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - The 100 million global loan that the European Investment Bank (EIB) has just granted Bank Pekao will serve to finance small- and medium-sized projects in Poland in the following sectors: environmental protection, energy saving, infrastructures (including in the health and education sectors), industry, services and tourism. As a general rule, the final beneficiaries will be SMEs, as well as promoters in the private and public sectors - in the case of projects relating to energy, environmental protection and infrastructures. In a press release, the EIB recalls that backing for SMEs is a priority in the last months of the pre-accession phase and will continue to be of major importance after enlargement. This global loan should play a role of catalyst for other foreign direct investments in Poland. It is the EIB's first transaction with Bank Pekao, which, through its assets, is the second largest bank in Central and Eastern Europe. Pekao's main strategic shareholder is UniCredito Italiano.