National promotional banks act asfinancial intermediaries for EIB Groupinvestments directed to small-scale projects. They channel our loans to businesses and local authorities in their home countries and collaborate with the European Investment Fund (EIF) in the implementation of its guarantee or equity mandates.
How do we cooperate?
Operational cooperation
As the EU bank, we rely on national promotional banks across the European Union in a number of areas. Considering theirknowledge and access to local markets, promotional banks are crucial for achievingmaximum reach and economic impact, especially in supporting small businesses.
Promotional banks also act as co-financiers or co-investors, either for individual schemes, investment platforms or investment vehicles. They make sure important projects that face difficulties in getting financing come to life.
Institutional cooperation
The EIB works together with national promotional banks on various international forums and through different organisations.
TheNPB Task Forceis themain forum for information and experience sharing.Established by the EIB in 2014, the Task Force has mainly supported the Investment Plan for Europe.
On 18 July 2019, the EIB along with five European national promotional banks and institutions launched theJoint Initiative on Circular Economyto support the development and implementation of circular economy projects and programmes in the European Union. This partnership will target at least €10 billion of investments over the period 2019 – 2023. Its aim is to prevent and eliminate waste, increase resource efficiency and foster innovation by promoting circularity in all sectors of the economy.
The EIB also works together with national promotional banks via numerous European or internationalclubs and associations:
- as a founding member of theLong Term Investors Club
- as a permanent observer of theEuropean Association of Long-Term Investors
On request, we also cooperate with the following:
- European Association of Public Banks
- Network of European Financial Institutions for SME
- European Guarantee Institutions Association
Moreover, the EIB is in regular conversation with the largest European promotional banks discussing major political and economic challenges. These topics includeclimate finance, migrationorregulatory issues.
The EIB is also involved in institutional dialogue with national promotional banks on bilateral basis, providing more in-depth exchanges of experiences on particular topics, including secondments of staff.
