Brussels, 18/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - At midday on 17 February, the EU finance ministers discussed the setting up of a European Investment Bank financing facility but the assessment of requirements is incomplete and it is therefore too soon to take a position, the Council says. We recall that, further to the earthquake in Asia, the EIB had proposed setting up a loan facility ranging between EUR 500 million to 1 billion to support the financing of reconstruction in the countries hit by the disaster. The facility must also be “attractive” in terms of rate and duration of reimbursement, and the Commission will therefore continue in collaboration with the EIB to make an analysis of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Facility and the situation will be discussed again during the next Council.