EIB loan to Bosnia and Herzegovina water sector

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has announced a € 60 million loan to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to cover 50% of the cost of improvements to its urban water and sanitation networks.

The EIB loan will finance an investment programme for the water and wastewater sector in 15 towns, with work including expansion of water and sewerage systems and the construction of wastewater treatment plants. The EIB has also said it is prepared to consider similar funding for the Republika Srpska, representing the other entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In addition to the EIB loans, funds from the European bank for Reconstruciton and Development (EBRD) and the World Bank, along with public money from Bosnia and Herzegovina itself and grants from the EU's Instrument for Pre-Accession (ISPA) budget.

Preparatory work is already underway on a number of sites thanks to EU grants from the the Environmental Project Preparation Facility.