BRUSSELS, Feb 16 (KUNA) -- The European Investment Bank announced hereThursday that during 2011, it signed EUR 61 billion of new loans in almost 70 countries. EIB President Werner Hoyer told a press conference that EUR 54 billion was provided for projects within the European Union and EUR 7 billion outside.

In support of democratic and economic transition following the Arab Spring, EIB gave EUR one billion in loans for private sector development and infrastructure projects in Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Lebanon and Israel.

Hoyer said the EIB, the bank of the European Union, also raises money in capital marketsfrom outside Europe such as the Middle East and the Americas.

"The EIB will continue to support both growth and job creation in Europe and beyond. Many countries are facing huge challenges and as the EU bank we are here to support them with financing of sound projects," he stressed.

EIB support for projects that reduce carbon emissions rose to 30% of total lending, providing EUR 18 billion for climate action. This included EUR 5.5 billion for renewable energy investment, EUR 1.3 billion for energy efficiency and EUR 8 billion for sustainable transport.

Under the EIB's strategy to maintain its financial strength through a gradual return to pre-2008 lending levels, lending for new operations in 2012 is planned to decrease to EUR 50 billion, he declared.