Organisation and staff

FEMIP activities fall within the remit of the European Neighbour and Partner Countries (ENPC) Department, which forms part of the Directorate for Operations outside the European Union and Candidate Countries.

The ENPC Department works closely with the Projects, Legal Affairs, Risk Management and Finance Directorates, and also avails itself of the services of the Bank's support directorates.

Within this department, the FEMIP team has nearly 75 staff. It comprises three divisions, two geographical and one horizontal, and a unit responsible for institutional matters and general policy.

The two geographical divisions cover the Maghreb and the Near East and are responsible for lending in their respective countries of operation.

The horizontal division manages the Bank’s private equity operations in all the Mediterranean partner countries.

Presence on the ground

The EIB has three external offices in the Mediterranean area.

Opened in 2003, the Cairo regional office was the Bank's first office outside the Union. Two more external offices were subsequently opened in Tunis (2004) and Rabat (2005).

This presence on the ground allows for improved coordination with local public authorities, borrowers, the banking sector and lenders. It also facilitates the implementation of technical assistance.