Brussels, 29/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB), the Union's long-term financing institution, is providing its first ever loan for an environment project in the Western Balkans. The EUR 27 million financing is for water infrastructure in 5 Albanian municipalities (Durrës, Korce, Lezhe & Shengjin, and Saranda). The project concerns basic water supply, sewer network and collection systems and low-cost wastewater treatment infrastructure. Integral to the project are measures to improve the financial viability of the municipal water and sewerage companies concerned, as well as to ensure sound project implementation and subsequent management. The project has been developed together with the Albanian Government, the local municipalities and water companies, as well as co-financiers already active in the Albanian water sector, with the aim of improving water and wastewater services in line with the Albanian Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy which addresses the structural problems faced by the sector.