The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) is the only European multilateral development bank with an entirely social purpose. It invests in social projects that foster inclusion and contribute to improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable populations across Europe. The oldest European multilateral development bank, it was established in 1956 by eight member states of the Council of Europe in order to bring solutions to the problems of refugees.
Today the CEB comprises 41 member countries and is an important financial instrument of solidarity in Europe. Working to strengthen social cohesion in accordance with its mandate, the CEB provides lending and technical expertise to a wide range of investment projects in areas such as aid to refugees, migrant and IDPs; social and affordable housing; municipal infrastructure; health and education; judicial infrastructure; job creation in SMEs and microcredit; energy efficiency and environment.