Luxembourg, 30/07/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) has lent Citigroup Hungary a total of EUR 30 million in the form of two overall loans of 15 million each, one in favour of Citibank Rt and the other for Citbusiness-Leasing Rt. These loans will be used to support investment projects implemented by small and medium-sized enterprises. The lending will be focused on productive facilities in the corporate industrial and service sectors and for municipal activities. It will co-finance projects in the areas of environmental protection, energy and energy savings, infrastructure - including health and education as well as urban renewal and social housing, services and tourism. The EIB can provide up to 50% of the total project costs, and the Bank's funds can be combined with EU grants under the Cohesion and Structural Funds Schemes. Citigroup Hungary will benefit under the signed global loans from the SME Finance Facility, a special scheme promoted by the European Commission under the Phare programme. The objective of this facility is to increase financing for the smaller segment of the SME market at supporting terms. It provides the partner banks with incentives to further develop a strong and competitive SME sector in the new Member States.