Press Release: Member States reinforce European Commission efforts to fund infrastructure projects in the EU neighbourhood

The signature of the 'NIF Trust Fund Agreement' in the margins of the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 26 January 2009, will allow EU Member States to provide additional funds to the Neighbourhood Investment Facility, a key lever of the European Neighbourhood Policy. This Trust Fund has been opened by the European Investment Bank in order to receive Member States bilateral contributions for the funding of infrastructure projects to the Union's East and South. In 2008, € 37 million of additional contributions have been pledged by 15 Member State and will complement the € 100 million already provided by the EC Budget.