BRUSSELS — A senior official from the European Investment Bank has labeled doubts about its credentials in least-developed countries and fragile states as “fake news” as it vies with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for an enhanced role in overseeing European development finance.
Maria Shaw-Barragan, director of the global partners department at EIB, told the audience at a lunchtime event in Brussels on Tuesday: “There is some fake news on EIB and least-developed countries and fragile states, so I want to share data, statistics with all of you.” She cited EIB’s “active exposure in 42 out of the 59 least-developed countries or fragile states that exist in the world … which means that we do have experience in these countries.”
Last month, a group of experts convened by European Union member states — known as the “Wise Persons Group” — delivered a long-awaited report to EU leaders, presenting options for how EIB, EBRD, national development finance institutions, and European Commission can better coordinate their investments abroad, particularly in Africa.