Chakiris (EIB): Priority to address the housing problem

In the increase in housing supply and therefore in the management of the housing problem plans to contribute (EIB), according to the statements of its Vice President, Giannis Tsakiris, to the First Programme. As noted by the EIB Vice-President “We are the most important financier of the Greek economy in terms of international organisations. For the last 40 years or so. About 2.5 billion on average are annual financing and is just over 1% of the country’s GDP… It is one of the largest funding in the Member States in absolute numbers’ At the same time, it clarified that the EIB offers loans to the public sector for investment in infrastructure and in the private sector for large projects, e.g. industrial, energy. The EIB also grants loans to the banking sector to finance small and medium-sized enterprises. Another big part is that of guarantees from the European Investment Fund belonging to the European Investment Bank group, guarantees for loans from small and medium-sized enterprises and finally investment in venture capital and private equity. Regarding the housing problem he said it has a pan-European scope and “… our goal is to step significantly together with the European Commission on the part of the offer. And when I say offer I mean new units, but also very important this renovation and energy upgrading of existing buildings that are both much faster and relatively cheaper.” He stressed that the goal is affordable housing (affordable housing), i.e. a couple with an average salary in a large city pays a rent such as to allow him to live comfortably with the rest of his income. “We have done several such programs. The last one in Ireland. We now sign one for Germany, which is made with state housing companies, adding that in Greece, the EIB is discussing with the IPPA because it has a plan in this direction.