Mr da Silva Costa underlined the EIB’s commitment to projects of this kind, “which make a major contribution to integration and cohesion both within the European Union and with our Mediterranean neighbours”. He stressed the fact that “in terms of its location, volume of turnover and value of goods handled, Barcelona is one of the Mediterranean’s most important ports and a key part of the trans-European transport network”. He also highlighted “ Barcelona’s strategic input into the building of the motorways of the sea and the European intermodal transport network in general.”

In the words of the Port of Barcelona’s Chairman: “This operation with the EIB will enable us to create new areas mainly devoted to container and short sea shipping (SSS) traffic, as well as developing the necessary road and rail links to the internal market. The EIB loan will give a financial boost to our plans to expand into the port’s hinterland and will strengthen our position as Europe’s southern gateway and a leading Mediterranean logistics hub”.

The loan will help to finance the expansion of the port, including the enlargement of the South Quay (site of the Barcelona container terminal) and the relocation of the company CLH’s berths; the relocation of Port Nou terminal’s activity to the Adossat Quay and construction of a new short sea shipping terminal at the Costa Quay; and the building of 500 metres of quayside with a depth of 16.5 metres and 37 hectares of new terminal area at the Prat Quay, along with the construction of road and rail links.

Since 2001, under previous agreements with the EIB, the Port of Barcelona has received a total of EUR 390 million through eight different loans.

The European Investment Bank is the long-term financing institution of the European Union (EU), working to further European objectives. Created in 1957, it operates in the EU’s 27 Member States and in over 130 other countries across the world. The Bank’s financing is geared to well-defined European policies. Trans-European transport networks (TENs) are one of the EU’s priorities owing to the contribution they make to fostering Europe’s economic and social integration, the free movement of persons and goods and the development of the Union’s less favoured areas.

The Port of Barcelona is Catalonia’s main transport and logistics hub. With 112 shipping lines operated by 163 companies providing regular connections to 825 ports on five continents, it is by far Spain’s leading international port.