224

							                                                                                                                            PRESS RELEASE

40 member states                                                                                                                                       224


Albania
                             Hungary and the CEB sign two loan agreements to support
Belgium
                                       the social and economic development
Bosnia and Herzegovina
                                  of the country's South and North-Eastern parts
Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus
                         Paris, 19 May 2008
Czech Republic

Denmark                  On 19 May 2008, Hungary and the CEB signed two loan agreements for a total
Estonia                  amount of € 126 million:
Finland
                         •    The first loan, amounting to € 71 million, is aimed at financing investments to
France
                              promote the economic and social development of the North Great Plain Region
Georgia                       (Észak-Alföld).
Germany                       This is the CEB's first operation in favour national authorities for a European
Greece                        Union Operational Programme. The Operational Programme provides a
Holy See                      comprehensive long-term development framework for Hungary’s poorest region.
                              It reflects the region’s specific needs, including a focus on vulnerable
Hungary
                              populations and on investments to promote economic development and to
Iceland                       improve social services in less developed municipalities in the region.
Ireland

Italy
                         •    The second loan, amounting to € 55 million, is aimed at financing investments to
                              promote the economic and social development of the South Great Plain Region
Latvia
                              (Dél-Alföld).
Liechtenstein
                              This other CEB operation under an EU Operational Programme aims on the one
Lithuania                     hand to increase the competitiveness of the regional economy, leading to the
Luxembourg                    creation and preservation of jobs; and on the other hand to increase regional
Malta                         cohesion by improving the public infrastructure which determines living
                              conditions for the population.
Moldova

Montenegro               Through these two operations, CEB funds will reach beneficiaries throughout South
Netherlands              and North-Eastern Hungary, and will contribute to the economic catch up of the two
Norway
                         regions concerned.
Poland

Portugal

Romania

San Marino

Serbia

Slovak Republic                                                                          *
Slovenia

Spain
                         Set up in 1956, the CEB (Council of Europe Development Bank) has 40 member states. 18 Central and Eastern
Sweden
                         European countries are listed among the member states.
Switzerland
                         As a major instrument of the policy of solidarity in Europe, the Bank finances social projects by making available to them
"the former Yugoslav     resources raised in conditions reflecting the quality of its rating (AAA with Standard & Poor's, Fitch Ratings and Moody's).
Republic of Macedonia"   It thus grants loans to its member states, to financial institutions and to local authorities for the financing of projects in the
                         social sector, in accordance with its Articles of Agreement.
Turkey



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