The two officials met on the fringes of the annual assembly of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Kollatz-Ahnen confirmed that the EIB's technical mission was evaluating two new projects this and next week, a EUR190 million loan to finance the construction of a gas-supply network towards south Croatia and a EUR120 million loan to modernise the Zadar port.
The aim is for the EIB to adopt both projects on July 17 so that both loan agreements could be signed by the end of July and the projects launched as early as this autumn.
The EIB is interested in financing the building of a new passenger terminal at Zagreb's Pleso airport, the modernisation of the railroad on the European corridor X, with co-financing from IPA funds, and other projects in road and highway construction and maintenance which are being prepared and are expected to be financed in 2008.
Kollatz-Ahnen informed Suker about the EIB's readiness to approve for the first time without state guarantees a loan to the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) to incite small and medium-sized enterprise, promote energy efficiency and environmental protection.
The EIB is interested in considering future investment in the construction of waterworks and sewerage systems as direct financing to local self-government units or through the HBOR, namely without demanding state guarantees.
Kollatz-Ahnen commended Croatia's development, stressing that the EIB was proud to be able to support it on its road to European Union membership. The Bank has decided to prepare and in talks with the Croatian government adopt the first medium term cooperation strategy that will provide a review of all investments planned for Croatia and the amounts of future sums the EIB is ready to approve for public and private projects.