By letter of 27 June 2005, the Italian Republic nominated Mr Ignazio Angeloni (Director for International Financial Relations at the Italian Finance Ministry) for appointment as full member of the Bank's Board of Directors to succeed Mr Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, who has resigned.

On 30 June 2005, the EIB's Governors were invited by written procedure to vote on the proposed appointment. The decision to appoint Mr Angeloni was taken on 14 July 2005, the date on which the Bank received the requisite majority of votes in favour by the Governors.

Mr Angeloni has been appointed for the remainder of his predecessor's term of office, which will expire in 2008 at the end of the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors in which the annual report, balance sheet and profit and loss account for the 2007 financial year are examined.

The Minutes of this decision will be drawn up shortly and submitted to the Chairman of the Board of Governors for signature.