Luxembourg, 09/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing SRWT (Societé Regionale Wallonne du Transport) with long-term funding of €75 million to help complete the Charleroi Metro (light railway) by completing the Charleroi town centre circle line, extending the Gilly line to Soleilmont and the north to meet the Gosselies line. The Metro programme meets one of the EU's priority objectives because it extends a public transport network which will help cut CO2 emissions and noise pollution. Metro and tram lines account for a large share of the EIB loans to European cities and regions (Athens, Madrid, Brussels, Marseilles, Prague, Dublin, Budapest, etc). From 2002 to 2006, the EIB provided loans of €16 bn to extend urban transport in EU member states. (ol)