The European Investment Bank (EIB) press office issued the following statement on Tuesday:
“The European Investment Bank (EIB) is aware of the proposal put forward by the port of Hamburg and its consultancy team for the reconstruction of the port of Beirut and surrounding areas. However, currently there is no financing offer by the EIB. Any EIB financing would be subject to due diligence and have to follow the Bank’s usual process for such operations. This includes, inter alia, full compliance with EIB’s procurement guidelines and Environmental and Social standards. The Bank stands ready to support the Lebanese people and reconstruction efforts as part of Team Europe alongside its partners, the international community and all stakeholders. It fully supports the principles of transparency, accountability and inclusion laid down in the Beirut Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework of which it is a member of the Consultative Group. These are essential in order not to repeat past mistakes and build back better in order to put Lebanon on the path of sustained recovery.”