The EBRD's unique Mandate
Since the early 1990s, the EBRD has been guided by its unique mandate to further progress towards market-oriented economies and the promotion of private and entrepreneurial initiative in its regions of operation.
Over more than three decades, the EBRD has worked in service of this mandate, while being a resolute partner in the face of crises such as the war on Ukraine, natural disasters and the coronavirus pandemic.
We have grown as a Bank, with an expanding base of shareholders and countries of operation. We bring a proven track record of success and innovation wherever we work.
Uniquely for a development bank, the EBRD has a political mandate in that it assists only those countries ‘committed to and applying the principles of multi-party democracy [and] pluralism’.
The EBRD has always been committed in its activities to safeguard the environment and advance sustainable development. Indeed, a commitment to promote ‘environmentally sound and sustainable development’ was made explicit at its founding.
More recently, our Green Economy Transition approach has made climate finance a key measure of the Bank’s performance.
Since 2021, the majority of our business volume has been green, and we are fully aligned with the Paris Agreement.
The coronavirus pandemic of 2020 was a huge challenge to the countries where the EBRD works, all our shareholders and the Bank itself. The EBRD responded by committing all its activity in 2020 and 2021 to countering its economic impact. The EBRD serves the interests of all its shareholders - 73 countries from five continents plus the European Union and the European Investment Bank.