EIB to raise lending to east Europe

The European Investment Bank plans to increase its loan portfolio this year to a record high of €45bn (£31bn) and to take greater risks in its lending strategy, Philippe Maystadt, its president, said yesterday. The EIB, which lent €43.2bn last year, including €3.4bn in the UK, is the European Union's bank for regional development, building trans-European networks such as road and rail links and providing venture capital for hi-tech start-ups. Mr Maystadt said the EIB would increase lending by about 2% in the 15 original member states but lend far more to the 10 new members, mainly in eastern Europe, and so-called "accession" countries such as Bulgaria and Romania. The bank plans to borrow €50bn again this year, largely through long-dated issues such as the 15-year €4bn that it raised last year. It said it would draw on surpluses to make riskier investments through its venture capital arm.