The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Istituto Mobiliare Italiano (IMI)

Abstract

This chapter aims to contribute toward the historical reconstruction of the European Investment Bank's lending activity in Italy since its creation in 1958 until 1978, by focusing on the relations that the Bank had with the Istituto Mobiliare Italiano (IMI). It deals with a neglected aspect in the literature on the ways the EIB operated in Italy since its creation, i.e., the relations that the Bank established with the IMI. The chapter demonstrates that, even if the IMI was empowered to serve as an intermediary for the EIB funds from July, 1968, the relationships with the EIB dated back to the beginning of the Bank's activity. The IMI's collaborative attitude was demonstrated in its readiness to provide the EIB with all its services for the appraisal process of the projects proposed by the Institute.