European Investment Bank As a Compass for the Market

ALUMNUS EDOARDO CARLOTTI, ADVISOR TO THE EIB, UNDERLINES THE BANK'S ADDITIONAL FUNCTION AS A GUIDELINE – NOT JUST FOR FINANCING. HIS JOB IS TO INTERCEPT ISSUES NOT YET ON THE BANK'S RADAR

"The European Investment Bank is like a compass for the EU single market. When financing projects on the market and promoting European policies, the market understands in which direction the EIB is moving and structures itself accordingly. This has happened, for example, through the introduction of new parameters, which help to evaluate a project also in light of its consequences on the climate. The Bank therefore plays a guiding role, in addition to just financing," says Edoardo Carlotti, Advisor to the EIB. He adds, "The economic context is constantly evolving; therefore, the EIB must always be aware of the changes taking place. My job, in the broader framework of consulting and technical assistance services, is precisely to intercept and select issues that have not yet ended up on the Bank's radar." More specifically, according to the Bocconi University Management graduate, his work aims to contribute to the definition of projects in order to attract EIB funding and more. Then at a later time, it aims to support companies already selected by the EIB but which have yet to receive financial support from the Bank.

The green and digital transition of EU companies is, in fact, one of the areas in which the European institution has implemented the number and type of indicators to support companies, paying greater attention to the climate impacts of each project. Today most of the planned investments concern, not surprisingly, the ecological evolution of European manufacturing. There are also new areas on which the market is focusing that still need to be fully studied, according to the EIB Advisor, such as quantum computing and bio-economies. "Accompanying all the projects both in the initial design phase and in their implementation," confirms Carlotti, "means, among other things, supporting the advocates of the initiatives in identifying the mechanisms and internal skills that are necessary for a plan to receive the necessary funds and be implemented, with a good chance of success. The end result is that the EIB is the link between the EU’s decision-political level and the real economy."
 

by Camillo Papini
Translated by Rosa Palmieri