Luxembourg, 06/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) has just granted an overall loan of 200 million EUR to the Caja de Ahorros y Pensiones de Barcelona- better known as Caixa- to fund small and medium investment projects carried out by Spanish local and municipal authorities. Caixa plans to use around 70% of the loan to fund projects in Objective 1 and Objective 2 regions, contributing to regional development and Spain's convergence with other European countries. This will be the ninth loan granted by the EIB to this financial establishment. The most recent, of 100 million EUR, was granted earlier this year to fund SME projects.