The EIB and the Finance Ministry said in a joint press statement on Thursday that the loan would be used to fund Slovenia's share of priority project in the fields of transport, energy, environment, and healthcare.

The other fields to be covered with the loans are infrastructure for research and development, environmental protection, social infrastructure, education and access to employment, ICT, regeneration of urban areas and water management. The total value of the projects has been estimated at EUR 3.8bn.

The EU's long-term lending institution has granted the loan in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and the Europe 2020 development strategy. A part of the loan could also be intended for projects related to the management of the refugee crisis.

The loan contract was signed in Ljubljana today by EIB Vice-President Laszlo Baranyay and Slovenian Finance Minister Dušan Mramor.

Baranyay said on the occasion that the loan would co-finance strategic projects that were significant for meeting the targets of the Slovenian government under the Europe 2020 strategy.

"This will help to create better conditions for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, accelerate the EU convergence process in Slovenia, further strengthen the country's competitiveness and increase the citizens' quality of life," he said.

Baranyay noted that this was also the first EIB loan providing the possibility to support projects needed to better face challenges related to the ongoing refugee crisis.

Minister Mramor added that the loan was "providing one of the most favourable sources of budget financing at favourable costs."

This is the third EIB loan co-financing EU grants in Slovenia. The bank previously co-financed EU grants with loans of EUR 20m in 2004 and EUR 500m in 2012.