European investment bank's loans to Morocco totalled 263 million euros in 1999

The overall loans extended by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to Morocco in 1999 totalled 263 million Euros, a bank report said.

The seven EIB loans were injected in development projects of road, railway and port infrastructure as well as in water supply, sanitation and environment projects.

Other Arab countries, member of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership were also granted EIB loans. These are Tunisia (132.4 million Euros), Egypt (188.3 million), Jordan (80 million), Lebanon (30 million) and Palestine (18 million), the report said.

During the same year, the EIB extended 229.4 million Euros to African countries, while the eleven countries applying for membership within the European Union were granted loans worth 2.37 billion euros. Part of these loans is earmarked for adhesion mechanisms.

The overall loans extended by the EIB in 1999 totalled 27.76 billion Euros, recording an increase of 10.5 % compared to 1998.