European Parliament

11/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/07/2024 06:25

REPORT on the draft Council decision on amendment of the EIB's Statute

REPORT on the draft Council decision on amendment of the EIB's Statute

7.11.2024 - (13182/2024 - C10-0105/2024 - 2024/0803(CNS)) - *

Committee on Budgets
Rapporteur: Joachim Streit

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the draft Council decision on amendment of the EIB's Statute

(13182/2024 - C10-0105/2024 - 2024/0803(CNS))

(Special legislative procedure - consultation)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the proposal of the European Investment Bank to the Council to amend the Statute of the European Investment Bank (13182/2024),

- having regard to Article 308 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C10-0105/2024),

- having regard to Rule 84 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A10-0013/2024),

1. Approves the proposal;

2. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

3. Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to substantially amend the text approved by Parliament;

4. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission, the European Investment Bank and the national parliaments.


EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

On 15 September 2024, the European Investment Bank (EIB) submitted to the Council a request to amend the first subparagraph of Article 16, paragraph 5 of its Statute.

This follows the procedure laid down in Article 308 TFEU, according to which "[t]he Council acting unanimously in accordance with a special legislative procedure, at the request of the European Investment Bank and after consulting the European Parliament and the Commission [....] may amend the Statute of the Bank."

The aim of the targeted amendment proposed by the EIB is to implement a recommendation stemming from the G20 commissioned review of Multilateral Development Banks' (MDB) capital adequacy frameworks ('the CAF Review'), namely to remove statutory lending limits from their statutes. The underlying intention of the change is to give the relevant governing bodies of MDB full authority over risk management metrics and leverage metrics. As per the proposed change, the maximum 250 % gearing ratio in the EIB statute should be replaced by an unanimous decision by the Board of Governors.

According to the EIB Group, the current maximum gearing ratio of 250 % would severely constrain the 2024-27 Strategic Roadmap. In addition, it would neither take into account the quality of the EIB portfolio nor credit enhancements, such as EU budget guarantees. Finally, the ratio would especially penalise equity investments. In anticipation of the approval of the proposed amendment, the Board of Governors unanimously decided in July 2024 to increase the Gearing Ratio of the Bank to 290 %, in order to allow the Bank to reap its full potential in support of EU priorities and to close the investment gap.

The rapporteur supports the proposed amendment to the EIB statute, recognizing that it aligns with modern financial standards. At the same time, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining the unanimity requirement as this ensures that any revisions to the maximum gearing ratio will continue to have the backing of all Member States, preserving a balance of power. While the rapporteur acknowledges the possible challenges posed by the current gearing ratio limit of 250% for the Bank's 2024-27 Strategic Roadmap, he firmly asserts that any statutory changes must not compromise financial discipline or reduce transparency. It is crucial that the Bank remains committed to robust risk management practices, safeguarding public funds.

Given the tight consultation timeline given by the Council to the EP, the rapporteur expects a swift agreement on the amendment to the EIB statute in the Council.


ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONSFROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that he has received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the report, prior to the adoption thereof in committee:

Entity and/or person

European Investment Bank

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament's Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

PROCEDURE - COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Title

Amendment of the EIB's Statute

References

13182/2024 - C10-0105/2024 - 2024/0803(CNS)

Date Parliament was consulted

20.9.2024

Committee(s) responsible

BUDG

Committees asked for opinions

Date announced in plenary

ECON

10.10.2024

Not delivering opinions

Date of decision

ECON

10.10.2024

Rapporteurs

Date appointed

Joachim Streit

23.7.2024

Simplified procedure - date of decision

14.10.2024

Discussed in committee

6.11.2024

Date adopted

6.11.2024

Result of final vote

+:

-:

0:

26

5

1

Members present for the final vote

Georgios Aftias, Rasmus Andresen, Isabel Benjumea Benjumea, Angéline Furet, Jens Geier, Jean-Marc Germain, Sandra Gómez López, Monika Hohlmeier, Alexander Jungbluth, Ondřej Kovařík, Janusz Lewandowski, Giuseppe Lupo, Fernando Navarrete Rojas, Victor Negrescu, Matjaž Nemec, Danuše Nerudová, João Oliveira, Ruggero Razza, Karlo Ressler, Bogdan Rzońca, Julien Sanchez, Hélder Sousa Silva, Joachim Streit, Carla Tavares, Nils Ušakovs, Lucia Yar

Substitutes present for the final vote

Damian Boeselager, Tomasz Buczek, Thomas Geisel, Moritz Körner, Jacek Protas, Kai Tegethoff

Date tabled

7.11.2024


FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

+

ECR

Ruggero Razza, Bogdan Rzońca

PPE

Georgios Aftias, Isabel Benjumea Benjumea, Monika Hohlmeier, Janusz Lewandowski, Fernando Navarrete Rojas, Danuše Nerudová, Jacek Protas, Karlo Ressler, Hélder Sousa Silva

PfE

Ondřej Kovařík

Renew

Moritz Körner, Joachim Streit, Lucia Yar

S&D

Jens Geier, Jean-Marc Germain, Sandra Gómez López, Giuseppe Lupo, Victor Negrescu, Matjaž Nemec, Carla Tavares, Nils Ušakovs

Verts/ALE

Rasmus Andresen, Damian Boeselager, Kai Tegethoff

5

-

ESN

Alexander Jungbluth

NI

Thomas Geisel

PfE

Tomasz Buczek, Angéline Furet, Julien Sanchez

1

0

The Left

João Oliveira

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstention