23/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 18 December, the European Investment Bank (EIB) agreed to lend EUR 50 million to Unicredit Leasing Romania to finance projects of small and medium-sized companies (SMEs), with a smaller portion available for mid-cap companies in the areas of industry, including agriculture and agro-industry, transport, environmental protection, energy and energy saving, health and education and services, including tourism. Through its credit lines, EIB funds finance projects usually implemented by SMEs (with fewer than 250 employees) and mid-cap companies (with more than 250 and fewer than 3 000 employees). (O.L./trans/rh)