European countries in World Bank Group

The World Bank Group (WBG) is a family of five international organizations that makes leveraged loans, generally to poor countries. The World Bank's activities are focused on developing countries, in fields such as human development (e.g. education, health), agriculture and rural development (e.g. irrigation, rural services), environmental protection (e.g. pollution reduction, establishing and enforcing regulations), infrastructure (e.g. roads, urban regeneration, electricity), and governance (e.g. anti-corruption, legal institutions development).

Loans are provided at preferential rates to member countries, as well as grants to the poorest countries. Loans or grants for specific projects are often linked to wider policy changes in the sector or the economy. For example, a loan to improve coastal environmental management may be linked to development of new environmental institutions at national and local levels and the implementation of new regulations to limit pollution.

185 countries are involved in this organization. For example, France’s contribution to the World Bank’s fiduciary fund for the Palestinian Territories in 2005. With this new contribution, France’s total contribution to this fund stands at 5.5 million euros. Next, Spain and the World Bank work together with other member governments to finance projects, design policies and deliver programs to combat poverty in the developing world.

In Europe, there are also countries which are receiving aid from this World Bank Group and making progress as a result of it. They are also a member of this organization. For example in Poland, the World Bank is lending US$3.75 billion to finance structural reforms in public finance, the labor market and social sectors, and private sector development.

Additionally, there are also countries which have graduated from this organization, but still maintain a collaborative relationship with each other. For example, The Czech Republic graduated from the Bank's financial assistance in Spring 2006 but maintains an active partnership with the Bank on technical assistance and analytical work. The Bank's engagement in the Czech Republic (and other new EU Member States) will be set out in a Regional Framework, due to be published in Fall 2009. The collaborative relationship between the Czech Republic and the World Bank has provided opportunities to learn lessons and develop analytical instruments which also benefit other countries in the Region which started their transitions later.