The EIB, the EU's long term lending institution, has actively sought to support efficient PPP schemes across Europe, and in particular in transport infrastructure. The Bank has made nearly € 30bn available in loans for PPPs since the late 1980s. The EIB is also the leading financier of the TEN-T networks. It is expected to contribute 14 % of total TEN-T investment between 2007 and 2013.
The EIB group is at the forefront of EU efforts to finance innovation and enterprises. Using the expertise of the EIB and its SME financing arm, the European Investment Fund (EIF) provides the EU with an efficient tool to develop new PPPs.
Furthermore, the EIB has established together with the Commission and Member States the European PPP Expertise Centre (EPEC), which aims to strengthen the organisational capacity of the public sector to engage in PPPs through network activities and policy support to its members.
The Commission will work closely with the EIB and the private sector in order to increase the overall leverage effect of EIB funding, for instance through the blending of grants from the EU budget and EIB loans.