The EIB can and must play a leading role in the region, but this powerful financial instrument serving the external policy of the Union, whose activities, in accordance with the mandate provided by the 1999 decision, cover more than sixty countries, must match its actions to those of the Commission. It must also be made clear that the Commission cannot distance itself from the recent agreement that was reached in the tripartite dialogue in July, when a commitment was given to the effect that every new proposal' s compatibility with existing financial programming must be substantiated in the financial statement.
Den Europæiske Investeringsbank kan og skal spille en betydelig rolle i regionen, men det er klart, at dette mægtige finansielle instrument, som står til rådighed for Unionens udenrigspolitik, og hvis aktivitet i henhold til mandatet i beslutningen fra 1999 omfatter mere end 60 lande, skal afpasse sin aktivitet efter Kommissionens aktioner, og det skal understreges, at Kommissionen ikke kan afvige fra den aftale, der kom i stand for nylig efter trepartsdrøftelsen i juli, hvor den forpligtede sig til, at ethvert nyt forslag i sin finansieringsoversigt skal bevise dets forenelighed med den gældende finansielle programmering.