I de lande, der ansøger om medlemskab af' EU, gennemføres EIB's aktiviteter inden for rammerne af EU's program for bistand til ansøgerlandene med henblik på at forberede deres optagelse i EU, navnlig ved at finansiere investeringer, der sigter mod integration af deres infrastruktur i EU's, og ved at bistå SMV.
In the countries that are candidates for EU membership, the Bank's activities are con ducted within the framework of the EU pro gramme to help the candidate countries pre pare for accession, in particular by financing investment aimed at integrating their infrastructure with that of the EU and by assisting SMEs.