<P> The EIB Group was formed in 2000, comprising the EIB and the European Investment Fund (EIF), the EU's venture capital arm that provides finances and guarantees for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The EIB is the EIF's majority shareholder, with 62% of the shares . In 2012, the EIB Institute was created, with the goal of promoting "European initiatives for the common good" in EU Member States and candidate and potential candidate countries, as well as EFTA nations . </P> <P> The total subscribed capital of the Bank was EUR 232 billion in 2012 . The capital of the EIB was virtually doubled between 2007 and 2009 in response to the crisis . The EU heads of government agreed to increase paid - in capital by EUR 10 billion in June 2012, with implementation expected in early 2013 . </P> <P> For the fiscal year 2011, EIB lent EUR 61 billion in various loan products, bringing total outstanding loans to EUR 395 billion; one - third higher than at the end of 2008 . Nearly 90% of these were with EU member states with the remainder dispersed between around 150 "partner countries" (in southern and eastern Europe, the Mediterranean region, Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific). The bank uses its AAA credit rating and funds itself by raising equivalent amounts on the capital markets . </P> <P> As the "Bank of the European Union", the EIB's mission is to make a difference to the future of Europe and its partners by supporting sound investments which further EU policy goals . </P>

Where does the eib get its money from