Prague – Today, the Czech Republic commences its year-long presidency of the Board of Governors of the European Investment Bank (EIB). The presidency, which rotates among the EU’s 27 member nations based on a preset schedule, was officially assumed today in Luxembourg by Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura (ODS), as announced in a press release from the Ministry of Finance.
The European Investment Bank is an EU institution focused on offering long-term loans, with its shareholders being the member states. The Board of Governors is composed of ministers appointed from EU countries, typically finance ministers, who provide overarching policy direction for the EIB’s lending practices and authorize the bank’s financial activities beyond the EU, including capital increases.
Stanjura highlighted the EIB’s crucial role in advancing European priorities, ranging from defense and energy security to affordable housing. “I particularly value the support the bank provides to the European defense sector. Over the past year, the EIB has implemented significant changes to its criteria, enabling it to finance a wider array of projects and a more diverse portfolio of companies,” said Stanjura.
Nadia Calviňová has served as the EIB’s President since last year. The Deputy Minister of Finance of the Czech Republic, Marek Mora, will become one of the vice presidents, starting a four-year term on October 1. The only previous Czech vice president of the EIB was Ivan Pilip, who held the position from 2004 to 2007.
In the previous year, the EIB financed projects in the Czech Republic amounting to 2.47 billion euros (62.6 billion crowns). This support saw a one-third increase compared to 2023, with the majority of funds allocated to the modernization and development of railways and enhancement of energy infrastructure. (June 20)
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