Brussels, 20/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) has just launched a programme for 2009 in Serbia aimed at combating the financial crisis and bringing the country closer to the European Union. A first loan of €250 million for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and priority projects in the country, via the National Bank of Serbia, was signed in Belgrade. This is the first in a series of operations that are expected to see the EIB support Serbia's real economy in 2009-2010 with loans worth over €1.4 billion aimed to support the recovery of Serbian economy and pave the way towards European integration. The EIB and the Republic of Serbia also signed a new Framework Agreement governing EIB activity in Serbia. (O.L./transl.rt)