Luxembourg, 15/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) has just granted a loan of EUR 25 million to the university hospital (UH) of Fort-de-France to support the implementation of its multiannual investment programme 2001-2007. This concerns the first EIB intervention in favour of a hospital establishment in France. The main axis of this programme covers the creation of the "Maison de la Femme, de la Mère et de l'Enfant (MFE)" (House of the woman, mother and child) a Level 3 perinatal centre (highest care level) that will have a 171 bed capacity and cover the needs of the entire region in terms of gynaecology, obstetrics, neonatology and paediatrics. By financing this project, the EIB intends contributing towards the integration and development of Martinique, classed as a priority region for Community structural assistance (Objective 1). This intervention may be complemented with other contributions from the EIB, totalling the EUR 50 million approved by the Administrative Council in favour of this project.