Luxembourg, 05/11/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Hungarian ERSTE Bank sing a contract last Friday for an overall loan of EUR 30 million. This loan will facilitate access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and local associations to funding. Its main objective is to help Hungary prepare for EU accession. More specifically, it will allow for the granting of long term resources, indispensable for the funding of projects that are usually implemented by SMEs. A particular priority will focus on environmental protection projects and energy savings, which are generally carried out by local organisations that tend to be small in size. The loans will therefore contribute to the financial viability of these projects and the development of long term finance in Hungary, which is a significant vector for continued progress in the financial system of the country.