Bulgaria: improvements in healthcare facilities
(amount approved: 11 million euros)
Since 1995, the CEB has been contributing to financing a project for the re-structuring of the health sector in Bulgaria. This vast programme is aimed at improving the health of the population and increasing the efficiency of the healthcare system. The programme addresses four different aspects of the problem, three of which are cofinanced by the CEB and World Bank: strengthening the capacity for analysis and management in matters of healthcare policies, rehabilitating almost 1 000 neighbourhood healthcare centres, rehabilitating blood transfusion centres and improving emergency services throughout the country.

Germany: the key role of vocational training in the fight against unemployment
(amount disbursed: 100 million euros)
Actions in favour of vocational training play an integral part in the fight against youth unemployment. Germany has a widely acknowledged and long-standing tradition of apprenticeships. The CEB has financed an innovative project in Bavaria. The programme consists in granting financings to local SMEs that agree to make additional apprenticeships available for training young people. According to an evaluation carried out by LfA, (Landesanstalt für Aufbaufinanzierung), a Bavarian bank that received CEB financing, this programme has involved over 7 000 small and medium-sized enterprises and led to the creation of over 10 000 apprenticeships. Studies carried out on the project have shown that the whole programme has played a decisive role in reducing regional unemployment among young people.

Hungary: reconstruction after floods
(amount approved: 90 million euros)
Following the floods in November 1998 and April 2000, financing for the work of stabilising the banks of the Tisza River.

Lithuania: aide for refugees and migrants
(amount approved: 9.7 million euros)
Construction and renovation of housing for former deportees returning from the former USSR.

Poland: reconstruction after floods and flood prevention
(amount approved: 97 million euros)
Following the flooding in the summers of 1997 and 1998, reconstruction and modernisation of public infrastructure facilities and flood prevention work.

Slovenia: reconstruction after an earthquake
(amount approved: 4.6 million euros)
In the wake of the earthquake in the Posocje region in April 1998, reconstruction of buildings and infrastructure facilities, construction of social housing for dependent elderly persons whose houses were destroyed.

Spain: construction and renovation of schools
(amount disbursed: 62 million euros)
Between 1996 and 1999, in Andalucia, the CEB financed the construction of 109 schools and the renovation of 374 others. Because of the potential for strengthening social cohesion in the villages concerned, the construction/renovation of certain schools was undertaken at the request of and in close collaboration with parents' or teachers' associations. The social impact has been very clearly felt: the project has benefited 63 000 students, including almost 2 500 children from gypsy or migrant families, and has generated jobs in the construction industry (estimated at 2 000 per year) and in teaching (approximately 540 jobs).

Turkey:
	reconstruction after an earthquake (amount approved: 263 million euros) Following the earthquake in summer 1999 in the regions of Izmit and the Sea of Marmara, a project for the construction of 13 150 urban housing units.
	creation of a new town in Izmir (amount disbursed: 34 million euros) The city of Izmir, the third most populated city in Turkey, has a high rate of urbanisation. The project, partially financed by the CEB, has led to the creation of a new town 15 km from the centre of Izmir. Almost 3 000 social housing units have been built as well as urban and social infrastructure facilities, and nearly 15 000 disadvantaged persons have been provided with decent housing.