While the EIB's strength remains its distinctive model as a publicly owned investment bank whose remit is that of providing long-term lending so as to meet the policy goals set by its shareholders, EIB financing operations should contribute to the general principles guiding Union external action, as referred to in Article 21 TEU, of consolidating and supporting democracy and the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to the implementation of international commitments and agreements, including environmental agreements to which the Union is a party.
En ce qui concerne les pays en développement, les opérations de financement de la BEI devraient favoriser le développement économique, social et environnemental durable de ces pays, et en particulier des plus défavorisés d'entre eux, leur insertion harmonieuse et progressive dans l'économie mondiale, ainsi que le respect des objectifs approuvés par l'Union dans le cadre des Nations unies et des autres organisations internationales concernées.