Banks Move To Free Up Eastern Europe Lending
三家大型开发银行周四说，将向东欧陷入困境的银行及其客户提供245亿欧元（合310亿美元）的融资，试图藉此释放贷款，同时向资金更为雄厚的西欧施压，让它们也行动起来。世界银行(World Bank)欧洲复兴开发银行(European Bank for Reconstruction and Development)和欧洲投资银行(European Investment Bank)宣布，计划帮助阻止东欧经济体的急剧滑坡。全球不景气对东欧国家带来了严重冲击。世界银行行长佐立克(Robert Zoellick)一直呼吁实施一项大规模欧洲救助计划，他说东欧地区的银行共需要1,200亿美元的注资。欧盟领导人周日将开会讨论救助东欧的方法。佐立克本周早些时候在接受德国报纸《南德意志报》(Sueddeutsche Zeitung)采访时说，20年前我曾亲身参与了帮助欧洲恢复统一的历史性过程，我认为如果欧洲听任自己再次一分为二，将是一大悲剧。他的行动激怒了欧盟官员。欧盟委员会经济和货币事务委员阿尔穆尼亚(Joaquin Almunia)2月20日致函佐立克说，欧盟成员国已经向西欧的银行提供了慷慨的融资，这应该会对这些银行位于东欧的子公司有所帮助。在很多东欧国家，金融业的大部分都由西欧银行所有。由于东欧的贷款损失对西欧陷入困境的银行带来了进一步的冲击，这样的关系加剧了西欧的危机。东欧面临的困难从拉脱维亚总理托姆布洛夫斯基斯(Valdis Dombrovskis)的一份声明中就可见一斑。周四上任第一天他就说，夏季前拉脱维亚可能就会面临资金短缺的局面。他说，需要进一步削减预算。他的这番话给来自欧洲新兴国家的持续不断的负面消息又加了一条。罗马尼亚央行行长周四也说，罗马尼亚将向国际货币基金组织(IMF)和欧盟申请贷款。拉脱维亚已经被迫向国际货币基金组织欧盟和北欧国家政府申请了总计75亿欧元的紧急融资。托姆布洛夫斯基斯周四对记者说，拉脱维亚正处于破产的边缘。此前拉脱维亚总统扎特莱尔斯(Valdis Zatlers)任命这位37岁的欧洲议会议员在上周前政府崩溃后组建一个新的联合政府。这三家开发银行宣布的为期两年的融资计划旨在向中小企业放贷。三家机构将提供股权融资和债务融资信贷额度和政治风险保险。世界银行承诺，2009-2010年，将向东欧和中亚的银行业提供75亿欧元贷款，并把对非银行业的贷款增加125亿欧元。业务重点在前苏联国家的欧洲复兴开发银行说，将向银行提供约60亿欧元的股权融资和债务融资，并可能会直接向企业放贷。欧盟的长期放贷银行欧洲投资银行则说，它将向企业提供约110亿欧元的融资。Bob Davis相关阅读东欧危机可能恶化 欧元区银行风险骤增 2009-02-26东欧危机加重 急需更多救助资金 2009-02-23东欧危机威胁西欧知名企业 2009-02-23东欧经济噩耗连连 外资银行遭受重创 2009-02-19
Three big development banks Thursday said they will offer 24.5 billion euros ($31 billion) in financing for struggling banks in Eastern Europe and some of their customers, trying to free up lending and pressure wealthier Western Europe to pitch in.The World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank announced the program to help head off a precipitous slide in the economies of of Eastern Europe, which have been hit hard by the global downturn.World Bank President Robert Zoellick has been campaigning for a large-scale European rescue plan, arguing that banks in the region need $120 billion altogether for recapitalization.The announcement came just before European Union leaders will meet Sunday to figure out how to aid Eastern Europe. 'As someone who was personally involved with the issues of trying to restore Europe to its historical unity 20 years ago, I think it would be a tremendous tragedy if Europe allows itself to be broken in half again,' Mr. Zoellick said in an interview with the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung earlier this week.His campaign has rankled EU officials. Joaquin Almunia, the EU's monetary affairs chief, wrote Mr. Zoellick on Feb. 20 that EU countries already had provided generous funding for banks in Western Europe, which should help their subsidiaries in the east. In many eastern European countries, the bulk of the financial sector is owned by Western Europe banks.Those relationships have deepened the crisis in Western Europe, as loan losses in the east further undermine struggling banks in the west.The difficulties faced by Eastern Europe were underscored by a statement by Latvia's Prime Minister-designate Valdis Dombrovskis, who said on his first day on the job Thursday that the Baltic state could fall short of money by the summer.Further budget slashing is needed, Mr. Dombrovskis said, adding to the steady stream of negative news from emerging Europe. The head of Romania's central bank also said Thursday his country will ask the International Monetary Fund and the European Union for loans.Latvia has already been forced to turn to the International Monetary Fund, the European Union and Nordic governments for a combined 7.5 billion euros in emergency funding.'The state is on the verge of bankruptcy,' Mr. Dombrovskis told reporters Thursday, after Latvian President Valdis Zatlers appointed the 37-year-old European Parliament member to form a new governing coalition following the previous government's collapse last week.The two-year financing plan announced by the three development banks is aimed at lending for small and medium-sized businesses. The three institutions will provide equity and debt finance, credit lines and political risk insurance.The World Bank committed to provide 7.5 billion euros to the banking sector and also increase lending by 12.5 billion euros euros outside the banking sector in Eastern Europe and central Asia during 2009 and 2010. The EBRD, which focuses on former Soviet bloc countries, said it would provide about 6 billion euros in equity and debt finance to banks, and may lend directly to businesses. The EIB, the EU's long-term lending bank, said it would make available about 11 billion euros in lending facilities aimed at businesses.Bob Davis
Three big development banks Thursday said they will offer 24.5 billion euros ($31 billion) in financing for struggling banks in Eastern Europe and some of their customers, trying to free up lending and pressure wealthier Western Europe to pitch in.The World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank announced the program to help head off a precipitous slide in the economies of of Eastern Europe, which have been hit hard by the global downturn.World Bank President Robert Zoellick has been campaigning for a large-scale European rescue plan, arguing that banks in the region need $120 billion altogether for recapitalization.The announcement came just before European Union leaders will meet Sunday to figure out how to aid Eastern Europe. 'As someone who was personally involved with the issues of trying to restore Europe to its historical unity 20 years ago, I think it would be a tremendous tragedy if Europe allows itself to be broken in half again,' Mr. Zoellick said in an interview with the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung earlier this week.His campaign has rankled EU officials. Joaquin Almunia, the EU's monetary affairs chief, wrote Mr. Zoellick on Feb. 20 that EU countries already had provided generous funding for banks in Western Europe, which should help their subsidiaries in the east. In many eastern European countries, the bulk of the financial sector is owned by Western Europe banks.Those relationships have deepened the crisis in Western Europe, as loan losses in the east further undermine struggling banks in the west.The difficulties faced by Eastern Europe were underscored by a statement by Latvia's Prime Minister-designate Valdis Dombrovskis, who said on his first day on the job Thursday that the Baltic state could fall short of money by the summer.Further budget slashing is needed, Mr. Dombrovskis said, adding to the steady stream of negative news from emerging Europe. The head of Romania's central bank also said Thursday his country will ask the International Monetary Fund and the European Union for loans.Latvia has already been forced to turn to the International Monetary Fund, the European Union and Nordic governments for a combined 7.5 billion euros in emergency funding.'The state is on the verge of bankruptcy,' Mr. Dombrovskis told reporters Thursday, after Latvian President Valdis Zatlers appointed the 37-year-old European Parliament member to form a new governing coalition following the previous government's collapse last week.The two-year financing plan announced by the three development banks is aimed at lending for small and medium-sized businesses. The three institutions will provide equity and debt finance, credit lines and political risk insurance.The World Bank committed to provide 7.5 billion euros to the banking sector and also increase lending by 12.5 billion euros euros outside the banking sector in Eastern Europe and central Asia during 2009 and 2010. The EBRD, which focuses on former Soviet bloc countries, said it would provide about 6 billion euros in equity and debt finance to banks, and may lend directly to businesses. The EIB, the EU's long-term lending bank, said it would make available about 11 billion euros in lending facilities aimed at businesses.Bob Davis