Loan guarantees - In March 2009, the Portuguese government passed a budgetary amendment allowing it to extend guarantees for up to EUR 6 billion in favour of projects, including PPPs. This covers a wide range of State support mechanisms, including guarantees to publicly owned companies. The most advanced example is the "RAVE 1" project, the first section of the Lisbon-Madrid high speed line. This circa EUR 1.3 billion project includes a EUR 700 million senior debt package, part of which is provided through an EIB loan guaranteed by the Portuguese State.