European Commission and EIB collaborate on resource efficiency and green infrastructure

EU Commissioner for the Environment, Janez Potočnik (pictured right), was at the headquarters of the European Investment Bank to discuss resource efficiency, green infrastructure and eco-innovation with EIB's President Werner Hoyer on Tuesday 18 June.

Commissioner Potočnik has highlighted the crucial role of the Bank in financing for resource efficiency and green technologies and the development of innovative financial instruments to support overall objectives.

The collaboration between EIB and the Commission services, particularly in the Water sector, has been focused on during the meetings between the two.

President Hoyer stated that the EIB is fully committed to the application of its environmental standards, and that the Bank shares the common interest to maximise growth and employment, promote the long term recovery of the EU economy and the protection and sustainable use of the natural environment.

In addition, the European Investment Fund is planning to speed up its SME investment activity in the coming years in the eco-innovation sector.

Potočnik and Hoyer agreed that there are additional areas in which the Commission's Environment Directorate General (DG ENV) and the Bank can collaborate, in particular the Natural Capital Finance Facility (NCFF), focusing mainly on soil, land and forestry, and the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Water.

There is financial and technical expertise on the one side, and the capability to establish optimised policy and regulatory frameworks on the other.

Working together, the Bank and the European Commission DG ENV can send strong signals to that the fight against climate change, the financing of green infrastructure, the management of natural capital and resources and the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems will be vitally important over the years to come.