The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB, ) is a multilateral development bank, granting loans to member states to help disaster victims, help with job creation, and improve social infrastructure. , its assets stood at 28 billion euros, which it uses to co-finance projects by means of loans of up to 40% of the project cost.
Its origins go back to 1956 when the Council of Europe created its Resettlement Fund for National Refugees and Over-Population in Europe (), which was renamed as the Council of Europe Social Development Fund () in 1994 and eventually as the CEB in 1999. Since 1956, the bank has been headquartered at 55, avenue Kléber in Paris. It is a separate legal entity from the Council of Europe and is autonomous in its decision-making. It has a high credit rating from Moody's, Standard and Poor's and Fitch Ratings.:fr:Fitch Ratings
CEB formally uses both the French and English languages. English largely replaced French as internal working language in the 2010s.
History The CEB dates from 1956, when the Council of Europe established the Resettlement Fund for National Refugees and Over-Population in Europe as a Partial Agreement. In 1994, it changed its name to the Council of Europe Social Development Fund, before becoming the Council of Europe Development Bank in 1999.
The original aim was to help refugees and other displaced persons after the Second World War. It later expanded its scope of activities to include assistance to disaster victims, help with job creation, and improve social infrastructure. Its aim today is to promote social cohesion in its member states.Activities and orientations of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB): Recommendation 1818 (2007)1 of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Membership
As of April 2026 there are currently 43 member countries:
All member countries except for the Holy See and Kosovo are also members of the Council of Europe. Five members of the Council of Europe, specifically Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Monaco and the United Kingdom aren't members of the CEB but are eligible for membership.
Governors
Raphael Alomar (1999-2011), previously head of the Council of Europe Resettlement Fund (1993-1994) and Social Development Fund (1994-1999) Rolf Wenzel (2011-2021) Carlo Monticelli (from 2021)
See also European Bank for Reconstruction and Development European Investment Bank European Stability Mechanism International Investment Bank Open Balkan Craiova Group
References