Bekendtgørelse af overenskomst af 11. februar 2004 om Den Nordiske Investeringsbank

Artikel 1

Formålet med Den Nordiske Investeringsbank (herefter kaldet ”banken”) er at stille finansiering til rådighed på bankmæssige vilkår og i overensstemmelse med samfundsøkonomiske hensyn med henblik på gennemførelse af investeringsprojekter af interesse for medlemslandene og andre lande, der modtager sådan finansiering.

Banken har status som en international juridisk person med fuld retsevne. Den er især berettiget til at indgå aftaler, erhverve og afhænde fast ejendom og løsøre samt være part i tvister ved domstole og andre myndigheder.

§ 1

Formålet med Den Nordiske Investeringsbank, herefter omtalt som ”banken”, er at yde lån og stille garantier på bankmæssige vilkår og i overensstemmelse med samfundsøkonomiske hensyn med henblik på gennemførelse af investeringsprojekter af interesse for både Medlemslandene og andre lande der modtager sådanne lån og garantier.

Navn og forkortelse

Artikel 2

Banken udøver sin virksomhed i overensstemmelse med vedtægterne vedlagt denne overenskomst. Med undtagelse af bestemmelserne om styrelsesrådets sammensætning og beføjelser kan vedtægterne ændres af bankens styrelsesråd på forslag fra eller efter høring af bankens bestyrelse. Forslag til vedtægtsændringer, som er af principiel betydning for bankens formål, virksomhed og drift, skal forelægges Nordisk Råd samt det estiske, det lettiske og det litauiske parlament til udtalelse.

§ 2

Banken har følgende officielle navne på følgende sprog: Nordic Investment Bank på engelsk, Nordiska investeringsbanken på svensk, Den Nordiske Investeringsbank på dansk, Põhjamaade Investeerimispank på estisk, Pohjoismaiden Investointipankki på finsk, Norræni fjárfestingarbankinn på islandsk, Ziemeļu Investīciju banka på lettisk, iaurės investicijų bankas på litauisk og Den nordiske investeringsbank på norsk.

Den officielle forkortelse af bankens navn er NIB.

Kapital

Artikel 3

Bankens grundkapital tegnes af medlemslandene. Enhver forhøjelse eller nedsættelse af grundkapitalen sker ved beslutning truffet af styrelsesrådet efter indstilling fra bankens bestyrelse.

Grundkapitalens størrelse, mulighederne for forhøjelse eller nedsættelse og fordelingen mellem medlemslandene er fastlagt i bankens vedtægter.

§ 3

Bankens grundkapital beløber sig til EUR 4.141.903.086, som tegnes af medlemslandene således

Danmark

EUR

881.062.083

Estland

EUR

30.234.434

Finland

EUR

765.788.207

Island

EUR

38.595.722

Letland

EUR

43.852.738

Litauen

EUR

67.815.914

Norge

EUR

793.105.204

Sverige

EUR

1.521.448.784

Enhver forhøjelse eller nedsættelse af grundkapitalen sker ved styrelsesrådets beslutning efter indstilling fra bankens bestyrelse. Forhøjelse eller nedsættelse af grundkapitalen fordeles mellem medlemslandene i forhold til deres bruttonationalindkomst i markedspriser, som fastsat til enhver tid af styrelsesrådet.

Artikel 4

Bankens hovedsæde er i Helsingfors.

§ 4

Medlemslandene stiller 10,106502750 procent af det i grundkapitalen tegnede beløb til rådighed for banken. Indbetaling sker ved påkrav fra banken.

Den resterende del af den tegnede grundkapital kan indkaldes ved påkrav, i det omfang bankens bestyrelse finder det nødvendigt for at opfylde bankens gældsforpligtelser.

Artikel 5

Der kan alene anlægges sag imod banken ved en kompetent domstol inden for territoriet i et land, hvor banken har etableret kontor eller har udpeget en repræsentant med henblik på at modtage stævning, samt ved domstol, som banken i øvrigt udtrykkelig har godkendt. Et medlemsland og personer, som repræsenterer et medlemsland eller hvis krav hidrører fra et medlemsland, kan dog kun stævne banken, såfremt banken udtrykkelig har givet tilladelse dertil.

En afgørelse truffet af en retslig eller administrativ myndighed må, for så vidt angår bankens ejendom og aktiver, uanset hvor de befinder sig, eller hvem der råder over dem, ikke fuldbyrdes, før afgørelsen er endelig.

§ 5

Betalingerne omtalt i § 4 erlægges i euro.

Artikel 6

Bankens ejendom og aktiver nyder, uanset hvor de befinder sig, eller hvem der råder derover, beskyttelse mod administrativ eller judiciel ransagning, rekvisition, konfiskation og ekspropriation.

Banken, dens ejendom samt aktiver kan ikke gøres til genstand for processuelle sikringsakter såsom arrest.

§ 6

Banken skaffer den for sin virksomhed nødvendige kapital såvel i som uden for medlemslandene. Den i henhold til § 4 indbetalte kapital kan ligeledes benyttes til dette formål.

Virksomhed

Artikel 7

Bankens lokaliteter og arkiver samt alle dokumenter, som tilhører banken eller er i dennes besiddelse, er ukrænkelige.

§ 7

Banken kan yde lån og stille garantier op til et samlet beløb svarende til 250 procent af grundkapitalen og de akkumulerede almindelige reserver. Ud over disse begrænsninger kan banken ligeledes yde lån og stille garantier i henhold til denne paragrafs afsnit 3 og 4.

Ved ydelse af lån eller garantistillelse skal banken kræve passende sikkerhedsstillelse, såfremt den efter omstændighederne nødvendige sikkerhed ikke allerede skønnes at foreligge.

Banken kan yde projektinvesteringslån og stille garantier for projektinvesteringslån (projektinvesteringsgarantier) som beskrevet i § 8 op til et beløb svarende til EUR 4.000 millioner.

For miljøinvesteringer i medlemslandenes nærområde kan banken yde særlige miljøinvesteringslån og stille garantier for miljøinvesteringslån (miljøinvesteringsgarantier) som beskrevet i § 9 op til et beløb svarende til EUR 300 millioner.

Banken kan endvidere træffe andre dispositioner i forbindelse med bankens virksomhed, som er nødvendige eller ønskelige for at fremme bankens formål.

Banken samarbejder med andre kreditinstitutioner samt med relevante offentlige myndigheder og private institutioner.

Artikel 8

Bankens officielle meddelelser skal af hvert medlemsland behandles på samme måde som officielle meddelelser fra ethvert andet medlemsland.

§ 8

Lån til og garantier for investeringer uden for medlemslandene kan, såfremt bestyrelsen træffer beslutning derom, betegnes som henholdsvis projektinvesteringslån og projektinvesteringsgarantier.

For ydede projektinvesteringslån og udstedte projektinvesteringsgarantier skal der foretages hensættelser til en særlig reservefond, primært til dækning af tab i forbindelse med sådanne lån og garantier.

Medlemslandene dækker bankens tab ved manglende betaling i forbindelse med sådanne lån og garantier op til følgende beløb

Danmark

EUR

377.821.491

Estland

EUR

13.139.366

Finland

EUR

344.859.832

Island

EUR

15.586.072

Letland

EUR

19.057.647

Litauen

EUR

29.471.632

Norge

EUR

329.308.526

Sverige

EUR

670.755.434

Medlemslandenes garantier dækker herved højst 90 procent af tab på de enkelte projektinvesteringslån. Betaling sker ved påkrav fra bestyrelsen i henhold til indgåede aftaler mellem banken og det enkelte medlemsland.

Artikel 9

Banken såvel som dens indtægter, aktiver og ejendom er fritaget for enhver form for beskatning, dog under iagttagelse af de præciseringer, som fremgår af denne artikel.

Banken er fritaget for skat på erhvervelse samt afhændelse af fast ejendom og værdipapirer i forbindelse med bankens officielle virksomhed.

Bankens låntagning og udlån samt låntagning fra banken og forhøjelse af bankens grundkapital er fritaget for alle skatter og lignende afgifter.

Såfremt banken på egne vegne eller på vegne af fonde, der har umiddelbar tilknytning til bankens virksomhed og direkte forvaltes af banken, foretager køb af varer eller tjenesteydelser, som er af betydelig værdi og nødvendige for bankens officielle virksomhed, og hvis prisen for sådanne køb af varer eller tjenesteydelser inkluderer skatter eller afgifter, skal det medlemsland, der har pålagt sådanne skatter eller afgifter, i det omfang disse kan beregnes, træffe hensigtsmæssige foranstaltninger for at indrømme fritagelse herfor eller sørge for tilbagebetaling heraf.

Bestemmelserne i denne artikel gælder ikke skatter og afgifter, der kun udgør vederlag for ydelser fra offentlige værker.

§ 9

Lån til og garantier for miljøinvesteringer i medlemslandenes nærområde kan, såfremt bestyrelsen træffer beslutning derom, betegnes som henholdsvis særlige miljøinvesteringslån og miljøinvesteringsgarantier.

Medlemslandene dækker 100 procent af bankens tab ved manglende betaling i forbindelse med sådanne lån og garantier op til følgende beløb

Danmark

EUR

70.112.698

Estland

EUR

2.189.894

Finland

EUR

51.377.349

Island

EUR

3.186.941

Letland

EUR

3.176.275

Litauen

EUR

4.911.939

Norge

EUR

61.324.467

Sverige

EUR

103.720.437

Betaling sker ved påkrav fra bestyrelsen i henhold til indgåede aftaler mellem banken og det enkelte medlemsland.

Artikel 10

Alle medlemmer af bankens bestyrelse, deres suppleanter samt bankens personale og eksperter udpeget af banken nyder uanset deres nationalitet beskyttelse mod retsforfølgelse, for så vidt angår de af dem i tjenestens medfør udførte handlinger. Banken kan give afkald på sådan beskyttelse i overensstemmelse med artikel 14. Der gælder dog ingen beskyttelse mod erstatningsansvar i forbindelse med trafikulykke forvoldt af ovennævnte personer.

§ 10

Bankens virksomhed drives efter de i § 1 fastlagte principper og i overensstemmelse med følgende retningslinier

a) Lån og garantier ydes ikke, hvis lån- eller garantitagers stat modsætter sig dette.

b) Optagelse af lån og placering af midler i medlemslandene finder sted i samråd med vedkommende lands myndigheder.

c) Banken tilstræber i sin virksomhed et sådant overskud, at fondsdannelse og rimelig forrentning af den i henhold til § 4 indbetalte kapital muliggøres.

d) Banken kan, hvis særlige behov derfor opstår, erhverve aktier eller andre aktiver til støtte for sin virksomhed eller for at sikre sine fordringer.

e) Banken skal i så vid udstrækning, som det er praktisk muligt, sikre sig imod risiko for valutakurstab.

Artikel 11

Alle medlemmer af bankens bestyrelse, deres suppleanter samt bankens personale og eksperter udpeget af banken, som udfører officielle opgaver for banken

i) Er undtaget fra indvandringsrestriktioner. Det samme gælder de nævnte personers ægtefæller og slægtninge, over for hvilke de har forsørgerpligt.

ii) Kan i det omfang særligt behov foreligger, bevilges rejsebetingelser, der svarer til international praksis for institutioner, som udøver tilsvarende virksomhed.

§ 11

Efter passende hensættelser til tab på debitorer overføres bankens overskud til en reservefond, indtil denne har nået et beløb svarende til 10 procent af grundkapitalen. Derefter træffer styrelsesrådet efter forslag fra bestyrelsen beslutning om fordeling af overskuddet mellem reservefonden og udbytte på grundkapitalen.

Artikel 12

Banken kan modtage og være i besiddelse af pengemidler, herunder enhver form for valuta, samt disponere over konti i enhver form for valuta. Banken kan ligeledes frit overføre sine pengemidler til, fra og inden for et medlemsland og veksle enhver valuta i sin besiddelse til enhver anden valuta.

§ 12

Bankens regnskab føres i euro. Regnskabsåret følger kalenderåret.

Bankens årsrapport samt det reviderede årsregnskab forelægges styrelsesrådet til godkendelse.

Administration

Artikel 13

Banken er undtaget fra betalingsrestriktioner og kreditpolitiske foranstaltninger, der på nogen måde hindrer eller vanskeliggør bankens låntagning og udlån eller opfyldelse af dens forpligtelser.

§ 13

Banken har et styrelsesråd, en bestyrelse, en administrerende direktør og sådant øvrigt personale, som er nødvendigt for bankens drift.

Artikel 14

Privilegier og immunitet i henhold til denne overenskomst indrømmes alene med henblik på, at banken skal kunne udføre sine opgaver, og ikke til fordel for andre.

Bankens bestyrelse kan, i det omfang og på vilkår som bestyrelsen fastsætter, give afkald på enhver immunitet og ethvert privilegium, som er indrømmet i henhold til denne overenskomst i tilfælde, hvor dette efter bestyrelsens opfattelse er i bankens interesse.

§ 14

Styrelsesrådet udpeger en formand for en periode på ét år. Formandskabet går på skift mellem medlemslandene.

Styrelsesrådet består af otte medlemmer. Hvert medlemsland repræsenteres af den minister, det har udpeget som sin repræsentant i styrelsesrådet.

Styrelsesrådet har følgende beføjelser

a) Ændring af vedtægterne med undtagelse af denne § 14.

b) Beslutning om forhøjelse eller nedsættelse af grundkapitalen.

c) Beslutning vedrørende spørgsmål om fortolkning og anvendelse af bestemmelserne i overenskomsten og vedtægterne.

d) Godkendelse af bankens årsrapport og reviderede årsregnskab.

e) Udpegelse af to medlemmer til kontrolkomiteen i henhold til § 17.

f) Beslutning om procedurer i forbindelse med udtræden af bankens medlemskreds.

g) Beslutning om at lade banken træde i likvidation.

Styrelsesrådets beslutninger skal være enstemmige. Beslutning kan træffes ved skriftlig procedure.

Styrelsesrådet holder et årligt møde samt yderligere møder efter behov.

Artikel 15

Styrelsesrådet kan beslutte at lade banken træde i likvidation i overensstemmelse med den fremgangsmåde, der er fastsat i bankens vedtægter.

§ 15

Med undtagelse af bestemmelserne i § 14 udøves samtlige bankens beføjelser af bestyrelsen, som i det omfang det skønnes hensigtsmæssigt kan uddelegere dem til den administrerende direktør.

Bestyrelsen består af otte medlemmer, hvoraf hvert medlemsland udpeger et medlem for en periode på højst fire år ad gangen. Efter samme principper udpeger hvert medlemsland endvidere en suppleant for hvert medlem.

Bestyrelsen udpeger blandt sine medlemmer en formand samt en næstformand for en toårig periode. Formandskabet samt næstformandskabet går på skift mellem medlemslandene.

Bestyrelsen sammentræder, når den indkaldes af formanden, eller når mindst to bestyrelsesmedlemmer eller den administrerende direktør anmoder derom.

Bestyrelsen er beslutningsdygtig, når mindst syv medlemmer eller stemmeberettigede suppleanter deltager. Hvert medlem har én stemme. I tilfælde af et medlems fravær er en suppleant fra samme medlemsland berettiget til at stemme. Som bestyrelsens beslutning gælder det forslag, som mindst fem af de stemmeberettigede giver deres tilslutning. Beslutning kan også træffes ved skriftlig procedure.

Artikel 16

Ethvert fortolkningsspørgsmål eller spørgsmål om anvendelse af bestemmelserne i denne overenskomst samt vedtægterne, som opstår mellem et medlemsland og banken eller mellem medlemslandene, forelægges bestyrelsen til udtalelse. En specielt udpeget repræsentant for et medlemsland, som er særlig berørt af det spørgsmål, der er under behandling, er berettiget til at være tilstede ved bestyrelsesmødet, når spørgsmålet behandles.

Spørgsmålet samt bestyrelsens udtalelse forelægges derefter styrelsesrådet til endelig afgørelse.

§ 16

Den administrerende direktør er ansvarlig for bankens løbende virksomhed og følger de retningslinier og anvisninger, der gives af bestyrelsen.

Bestyrelsen udpeger den administrerende direktør for en periode på højst fem år ad gangen. Den administrerende direktør må ikke være medlem af bestyrelsen eller suppleant for et bestyrelsesmedlem. Den administrerende direktør kan deltage i bestyrelsesmøderne, men har ingen stemmeret.

Banken tegnes af to personer, der hver især enten er bestyrelsesmedlem, suppleant for et bestyrelsesmedlem, den administrerende direktør eller en person, der er bemyndiget af bestyrelsen.

Andre bestemmelser

Artikel 17

Denne overenskomst skal ratificeres. Overenskomsten samt vedtægterne, jf. artikel 2, træder i kraft tredive dage efter den dag, hvor samtlige medlemslande har deponeret deres ratifikationsdokumenter i det norske udenrigsministerium, dog ikke før 1. januar 2005. Det norske udenrigsministerium informerer de øvrige medlemslande om deponeringen af ratifikationsdokumenterne og om tidspunktet for overenskomstens ikrafttræden.

Overenskomsten deponeres hos det norske udenrigsministerium, der tilstiller hvert medlemsland bekræftet genpart heraf.

Hvert medlemsland iværksætter omgående sådanne tiltag, som er nødvendige for gennemførelse af bestemmelserne i denne overenskomst, navnlig bestemmelserne om status, immunitet, privilegier og fritagelser for banken og de personer, der er nævnt i artiklerne 10 og 11, og informerer banken udførligt om de foranstaltninger, der er gennemført.

Når denne overenskomst og vedtægterne, jf. artikel 2, træder i kraft, ophæves overenskomst af 23. oktober 1998 mellem Danmark, Finland, Island, Norge og Sverige vedrørende Den Nordiske Investeringsbank samt bankens hidtil gældende vedtægter.

Uanset det ovenfor anførte er beslutninger i henhold til nævnte overenskomst eller vedtægter fortsat gyldige, i den udstrækning de er forenelige med eller ikke direkte ophævet ved denne overenskomst eller de hertil tilknyttede vedtægter eller enhver beslutning vedtaget i henhold hertil.

§ 17

Der oprettes en kontrolkomité, som har til opgave at kontrollere, at banken drives i overensstemmelse med disse vedtægter. Kontrolkomiteen er ansvarlig for revisionen af bankens regnskaber og aflægger en årlig revisionsberetning til styrelsesrådet.

Kontrolkomiteen består af ti medlemmer. Medlemmerne af komiteen udpeges for en periode på højst to år ad gangen. Nordisk Råd og det estiske, det lettiske og det litauiske parlament udpeger et medlem fra hvert medlemsland. Styrelsesrådet udpeger to medlemmer som henholdsvis formand og næstformand. Formandskabet samt næstformandskabet går på skift mellem medlemslandene.

Artikel 18

Ethvert medlemsland kan træde ud af overenskomsten ved at afgive erklæring herom til den norske regering, som straks underretter de øvrige medlemslande, styrelsesrådet og bankens bestyrelse.

Udtrædelsen træder tidligst i kraft ved udgangen af det regnskabsår, som følger efter det år, hvor udtrædelsen blev varslet.

Efter modtagelse af et varsel om udtrædelse fastsætter styrelsesrådet fremgangsmåden for afvikling af mellemværender mellem banken og det udtrædende medlemsland senest på datoen, hvor udtrædelsen træder i kraft. Det skal sikres, at det udtrædende medlemsland fortsat hæfter på lige fod med de øvrige parter for de af bankens forpligtelser, som var gældende ved det pågældende medlemslands udtræden.

VEDTÆGTER FOR DEN NORDISKE INVESTERINGSBANK

Den Nordiske Investeringsbank virker i overensstemmelse med følgende bestemmelser

Formål

§ 18

Hvis styrelsesrådet beslutter at lade banken træde i likvidation, fastlægger styrelsesrådet proceduren for afviklingen og udpeger de personer, som skal forestå afviklingen.

Medlemslandene hæfter for bankens forpligtelser med den ikke indbetalte del af den tegnede grundkapital, indtil samtlige forpligtelser over for kreditorer eller andre gældsforpligtelser er opfyldt. Kreditorfordringer eller andre forpligtelser skal først og fremmest dækkes af bankens aktiver, dernæst af indbetalt grundkapital og afslutningsvis ved påkrav af den endnu ikke indbetalte kapital. Ingen del af bankens grundkapital eller reservefond kan udbetales til medlemslandene, før samtlige forpligtelser er opfyldt eller dækket. Enhver fordeling af kapital mellem medlemslandene sker i forhold til landenes samlede andel af den tegnede grundkapital.

Til bekræftelse heraf har dertil bemyndigede repræsentanter fra de otte medlemslande underskrevet denne overenskomst.

Udfærdiget i Helsingfors den 11. februar 2004 i en svensk og en engelsk original, som begge har samme gyldighed.

Engelsk udgave

AGREEMENT BETWEEN DENMARK, ESTONIA, FINLAND, ICELAND, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, NORWAY AND SWEDEN CONCERNING THE NORDIC INVESTMENT BANK

The Governments of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden, hereinafter referred to as the Member countries, desiring to strengthen and further develop the cooperation among them through the Nordic Investment Bank, which was originally established by the five Nordic countries in 1975, as a common international financial institution having the same status as other legal persons conducting similar operations within and outside the Member countries, have agreed as follows

Article 1

The purpose of the Nordic Investment Bank, hereinafter referred to as the Bank, is to make financing available in accordance with sound banking principles and taking into account socioeconomic considerations, to carry into effect investment projects of interest to the Member countries and other countries which receive such financing.

The Bank shall have the status of an international legal person with full legal capacity. It shall in particular have the capacity to enter into agreements, to acquire and dispose of immovable and movable property, and to be a party to legal proceedings before courts of law and other authorities.

Article 2

The Bank shall conduct its operations in accordance with its Statutes annexed to this Agreement. The Statutes may be amended by decision of the Board of Governors subsequent to a proposal or statement from the Board of Directors of the Bank, with the exception of the provisions regarding the composition and powers of the Board of Governors. The Nordic Council and the Parliaments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania shall be given an opportunity to submit a statement on proposals regarding amendments of the Statutes that are important in principle as to the purpose, operations and management of the Bank.

Article 3

The authorised capital stock of the Bank shall be subscribed by the Member countries. Any increase or decrease in the authorised capital stock shall be decided by the Board of Governors, upon proposal of the Board of Directors of the Bank.

The size of the authorised capital stock, the possibility to increase or decrease the capital stock and its allocation among the Member countries are dealt with in the Statutes.

Article 4

The principal office of the Bank shall be located in Helsinki.

Article 5

Actions may be brought against the Bank only in a court of competent jurisdiction in the territory of a country in which the Bank has established an office, or has appointed an agent for the purpose of accepting service of process, or when the Bank has otherwise expressly accepted jurisdiction. Actions may, however, be brought by a Member country or by persons acting for or deriving claims from a Member country only if the Bank has given its express consent thereto.

Property and assets of the Bank, wherever located and by whomsoever held, shall be immune from execution of judgement or decree by judicial or administrative authority before such judgement or decree is final.

Article 6

Property and assets of the Bank, wherever located and by whomsoever held, shall be immune from search, requisition, confiscation and expropriation by executive or legislative action.

The Bank, its property and assets shall be immune from procedural measures of constraint such as seizure.

Article 7

The premises and archives of the Bank and all documents belonging to it or held by it shall be inviolable.

Article 8

The official communications of the Bank shall be accorded by each Member country the same treatment that it accords to the official communications of any other Member country.

Article 9

The Bank, its income, assets, and property shall be exempt from all taxation, with clarifications as set forth in this Article.

The Bank shall be exempt from taxes on purchase and transfer of real estate and securities in connection with the official activities of the Bank.

Borrowing and lending by the Bank, as well as borrowing from the Bank and increases in the authorized capital stock of the Bank shall be exempt from all taxes and imposts of a similar nature.

When purchases or services of substantial value and necessary for the exercise of the official activities of the Bank are made or used by the Bank on its own behalf or on behalf of special funds which are directly connected with the operations of the Bank and which are held in trust directly by the Bank, and when the price of such purchases or services includes taxes or duties, the Member country which has levied the taxes or duties shall, if they are identifiable, take appropriate measures to grant exemptions from such taxes or duties or provide for their reimbursement.

The provisions of this Article do not apply to taxes and duties which are in fact no more than charges for public utility services.

Article 10

All members of the Board of Directors, their alternates, officers and other employees of the Bank, and experts appointed by the Bank shall, regardless of nationality, be accorded immunity from legal process with respect to acts performed by them in their official capacity on behalf of the Bank. Notwithstanding this, the Bank may waive the immunity, in accordance with the provisions of Article 14. No immunity shall apply, however, to civil liability in the case of damage arising from a road traffic accident caused by any of the persons enjoying immunity under this Article.

Article 11

All members of the Board of Directors, their alternates, officers and other employees of the Bank, and experts appointed by the Bank performing official tasks at the request of the Bank

i) shall be exempt from immigration restrictions. This exemption shall likewise be extended to their spouses and dependent relatives;

ii) may be granted the same travelling facilities as are granted in respect of institutions similar to the Bank in accordance with international practice, when a particular need therefor arises.

Article 12

The Bank may receive and be in possession of monies including currencies of any kind, and may maintain accounts in all currencies. It may also freely transfer its monies to, from and within a Member country and may exchange any currency in its possession into any other currency.

Article 13

The Bank shall be exempt from payment restrictions and credit policy measures, which in any manner prevent or impede the fulfilment of commitments made by the Bank or of its borrowing and lending.

Article 14

Privileges and immunities under this Agreement are granted exclusively to enable the Bank to fulfil its functions, and not for the benefit of others.

The Board of Directors of the Bank may, to such extent and upon such conditions as it may determine, waive any of the immunities and privileges conferred under this Agreement in cases where such action would, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, be in the best interests of the Bank.

Article 15

The Board of Governors may decide that the Bank shall be put into liquidation, following the procedures laid down in the Statutes of the Bank.

Article 16

Any question of interpretation or application of the provisions of this Agreement and the Statutes arising between any Member country and the Bank, or between any Member countries of the Bank, shall be submitted to the Board of Directors for its opinion. A special representative of a Member country particularly affected by the question under consideration shall be entitled to be present in the meeting of the Board of Directors during such consideration.

The question, together with the opinion of the Board of Directors, shall then be referred to the Board of Governors for final decision.

Article 17

This Agreement shall be ratified. This Agreement and the Statutes referred to in Article 2 shall enter into force thirty days after the date on which all the Member countries have deposited their instruments of ratification with the Norwegian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, however not earlier than 1 January, 2005. The Norwegian Ministry for Foreign Affairs shall inform the other Member countries of the deposit of the instruments of ratification and of the time this Agreement enters into force.

This Agreement shall be deposited with the Norwegian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and certified copies shall be furnished by the Norwegian Ministry for Foreign Affairs to each of the Member countries.

Each Member country shall promptly take such action as is necessary for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this Agreement, particularly the provisions relating to the status, immunities, privileges and exemptions of the Bank and of the persons referred to in Articles 10 and 11, and shall inform the Bank of the detailed action which it has taken.

Upon entry into force of this Agreement and the Statutes referred to in Article 2, the agreement of 23 October 1998 between Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden concerning the Nordic Investment Bank and the statutes of the Bank in force at the time shall cease to apply.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, decisions adopted under the said agreement or statutes shall continue to be applicable to the extent that they are compatible with or not explicitly terminated by this Agreement or the Statutes attached hereto or any decision adopted hereunder.

Article 18

Any Member country may withdraw from this Agreement by giving notice of withdrawal to the Government of Norway, which shall immediately report such notice to the other Member countries, the Board of Governors, and to the Board of Directors of the Bank.

The earliest date on which such withdrawal shall become effective shall be the end of the financial year following the year in which the notice of withdrawal was submitted.

Upon receipt of a notice of withdrawal, the Board of Governors shall adopt procedures for settlement of accounts with the withdrawing Member country, no later than the date upon which the withdrawal becomes effective. It shall then be ensured that the withdrawing Member country shall, to the same extent as the other Member countries, remain liable for those commitments of the Bank which were in force at the time of the withdrawal.

STATUTES OF THE NORDIC INVESTMENT BANK

The Nordic Investment Bank shall operate in accordance with the following provisions

PURPOSE

Section 1

The purpose of the Nordic Investment Bank, hereinafter referred to as the Bank, is to make loans and issue guarantees in accordance with sound banking principles and taking into account socioeconomic considerations, to carry into effect investment projects of interest to the Member countries and other countries which receive such loans and guarantees.

NAME AND ABBREVIATION

Section 2

The Bank has the following official name in the following languages: Nordic Investment Bank in the English language, Nordiska investeringsbanken in the Swedish language, Den Nordiske Investeringsbank in the Danish language, Põhjamaade Investeerimispank in the Estonian language, Pohjoismaiden Investointipankki in the Finnish language, Norræni fjárfestingarbankinn in the Icelandic language, Ziemeļu Investīciju banka in the Latvian language, iaurės investicijų bankas in the Lithuanian language and Den nordiske investeringsbank in the Norwegian language.

The official abbreviation of the Bank’s name is NIB.

CAPITAL

Section 3

The authorised capital stock of the Bank shall be EUR 4,141,903,086 subscribed by the Member countries as follows

Denmark

EUR

881,062,083

Estonia

EUR

30,234,434

Finland

EUR

765,788,207

Iceland

EUR

38,595,722

Latvia

EUR

43,852,738

Lithuania

EUR

67,815,914

Norway

EUR

793,105,204

Sweden

EUR

1,521,448,784

Any increase or decrease in the authorised capital stock shall be decided upon by the Board of Governors, after a proposal by the Board of Directors of the Bank. Any such increase or decrease in the authorised capital stock shall be allocated among the Member countries based upon their Gross National Income at market prices as determined from time to time by the Board of Governors.

Section 4

The Member countries shall make available to the Bank 10.106502750 per cent of the subscribed authorised capital stock. The payments shall be made upon request from the Bank.

The remainder of the subscribed capital stock shall be subject to call to the extent the Board of Directors of the Bank deems it necessary for the fulfilment by the Bank of its debt obligations.

Section 5

The payments referred to in Section 4 shall be made in euro.

Section 6

The Bank shall acquire the funds necessary for the performance of its tasks in the Member countries or elsewhere. Additionally, the capital paid in pursuant to Section 4 may be used for such purpose.

OPERATIONS

Section 7

The Bank may make loans and issue guarantees up to a total amount equivalent to 250 per cent of the authorised capital stock and accumulated general reserves. In addition to these limits the Bank may make loans and issue guarantees as set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Section.

In making loans and issuing guarantees the Bank shall require that adequate security be provided, unless sufficient security is considered to exist under the circumstances.

The Bank may make project investment loans and issue guarantees for project investment loans (project investment guarantees) as described in Section 8, up to a total amount equivalent to EUR 4,000 million.

For environmental investments in the neighbouring region of the Member countries the Bank may make special environmental investment loans and issue guarantees for environmental investment loans (environmental investment guarantees) as described in Section 9, up to a total amount equivalent to EUR 300 million.

The Bank may also make other arrangements relating to its operations, which are necessary or desirable for furthering the purpose of the Bank.

The Bank shall co-operate with other credit institutions, and with public authorities and private institutions concerned.

Section 8

Loans made and loan guarantees issued for investments outside the Member countries may, if so determined by the Board of Directors, be designated project investment loans or project investment guarantees.

For project investment loans made and project investment guarantees issued, the Bank shall make allocations to a special credit risk fund, primarily to cover losses on such loans and guarantees.

The Member countries shall cover the Bank’s losses arising from failure of payment in connection with project investment loans and project investment guarantees up to the following amounts

Denmark

EUR

377,821,491

Estonia

EUR

13,139,366

Finland

EUR

344,859,832

Iceland

EUR

15,586,072

Latvia

EUR

19,057,647

Lithuania

EUR

29,471,632

Norway

EUR

329,308,526

Sweden

EUR

670,755,434

The Member countries’ guarantees hereby cover at most 90 per cent of losses on individual project investment loans. Payment is subject to call by the Board of Directors pursuant to agreements entered into between the Bank and each Member country.

Section 9

Loans made and loan guarantees issued for environmental investments in the neighbouring region of the Member countries may, if so determined by the Board of Directors, be designated special environmental investment loans or environmental investment guarantees.

The Member countries shall cover 100 per cent of the Bank’s losses arising from failure of payment in connection with environmental investment loans and environmental investment guarantees up to the following amounts

Denmark

EUR

70,112,698

Estonia

EUR

2,189,894

Finland

EUR

51,377,349

Iceland

EUR

3,186,941

Latvia

EUR

3,176,275

Lithuania

EUR

4,911,939

Norway

EUR

61,324,467

Sweden

EUR

103,720,437

Payment is subject to call by the Board of Directors pursuant to agreements entered into between the Bank and each Member country.

Section 10

The business of the Bank shall be conducted in accordance with the principles referred to in Section 1 and in accordance with the following guidelines

a) A loan shall not be made nor a guarantee issued if opposed by the state of the beneficiary.

b) Borrowings and the investment of funds in the Member countries shall be made in consultation with the authorities of the country concerned.

c) In its operations, the Bank shall aim for a profit allowing the formation of reserves and reasonable return on the paid-in capital referred to in Section 4.

d) The Bank may when specific need arises, acquire shares or other assets, in support of its business or to protect its claims.

e) The Bank shall, to the extent practicable, protect itself against the risk of exchange rate losses.

Section 11

After allocation to appropriate credit risk funds, the surplus of the Bank shall be transferred into a reserve fund until the amount equals 10 per cent of the authorised capital stock of the Bank. Thereafter, the Board of Governors, after proposal by the Board of Directors of the Bank, shall decide upon the allocation of the surplus between the reserve fund, and dividends on the subscribed capital.

Section 12

The Bank’s accounts shall be kept in euro. The financial year shall follow the calendar year.

The annual report of the Board of Directors and audited financial statements of the Bank shall be submitted to the Board of Governors for approval.

GOVERNANCE

Section 13

The Bank shall have a Board of Governors, a Board of Directors, a President, and such other personnel as is necessary to carry out its operations.

Section 14

The Board of Governors shall be composed of eight Governors. Each Member country shall be represented by the Minister designated by it as its Governor.

The Board of Governors shall appoint a Chairman for a term of one year. The chairmanship of the Board of Governors shall rotate among the Member countries.

The Board of Governors shall be vested with the following powers

a) Amendments of the Statutes with the exception of this Section 14.

b) Decisions on increase and decrease of the authorised capital stock.

c) Decisions on questions of interpretation and application of the provisions of the Agreement and the Statutes.

d) Approval of the annual report of the Board of Directors and audited financial statements of the Bank.

e) Appointment of two members of the Control Committee in accordance with Section 17.

f) Decisions on procedures related to withdrawal of membership of the Bank.

g) Decision on liquidation of the Bank.

Decisions of the Board of Governors shall be unanimous. Decisions may be taken by a written procedure.

The Board of Governors shall hold an annual meeting and such other meetings as deemed appropriate.

Section 15

Except as provided for in Section 14, all the powers of the Bank shall be vested in the Board of Directors, which may delegate these powers to the President to the extent considered appropriate.

The Board of Directors shall be composed of eight Directors, of whom each Member country shall appoint one Director for a term of up to four years at a time. Each Member country shall appoint one alternate according to the same principles.

The Board of Directors shall appoint from among its members a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman for a term of two years. The chairmanship and the deputy chairmanship shall rotate among the Member countries.

The Board of Directors shall be convened when decided by the Chairman or at the request of at least two of the Directors or the President.

Seven members or alternates entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum. Each member shall have one vote; in the absence of a member, an alternate from the same Member country is entitled to vote. A position supported by at least five members or alternates entitled to vote shall become the decision of the Board of Directors. Decisions may also be taken by a written procedure.

Section 16

The President shall be responsible for the conduct of the current operations of the Bank and shall follow the guidelines and instructions given by the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors shall appoint the President for a term of up to five years at a time. The President shall not be a member or an alternate of the Board of Directors. The President may participate in the meetings of the Board of Directors, but shall not vote at such meetings.

Two persons, each being either a member or an alternate of the Board of Directors, the President or a person authorised by the Board of Directors, shall sign on behalf of the Bank.

OTHER PROVISIONS

Section 17

A Control Committee shall be established to ensure that the operations of the Bank are conducted in accordance with these Statutes. The Control Committee shall be responsible for the audit of the Bank’s accounts and shall annually deliver an auditors’ report to the Board of Governors.

The Control Committee shall be composed of ten members. The members of the committee shall be appointed for a term of up to two years at a time. The Nordic Council and the Parliaments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania shall appoint one member from each country. The Board of Governors shall appoint two members to serve as Chairman and Deputy Chairman. The chairmanship and the deputy chairmanship shall rotate among the Member countries.

Section 18

If the Board of Governors should decide that the Bank shall enter into liquidation, the Board of Governors shall decide on the procedures of liquidation and appoint the persons to be in charge of the liquidation.

The Member countries shall be responsible for the commitments of the Bank with their uncalled subscriptions to the capital stock until all claims of creditors or other liabilities of the Bank shall have been discharged. Claims of creditors or other liabilities shall be paid first out of the assets of the Bank, secondly out of the payments to be made to the Bank in respect of commitments of paidin capital, and then out of payments to be made to the Bank in respect of callable capital. No disbursement shall be made to Member countries on account of their paid-in share of the subscribed capital stock or from the reserve fund, until all liabilities have been discharged or provided for. All allocations of capital among the Member countries shall be made in proportion to their respective total share of the subscribed capital stock.

In witness whereof, the undersigned authorized representatives of the eight Member countries have signed this Agreement.

Done at Helsinki on 11 February 2004, in one original in the English and Swedish languages, each of these texts being equally authentic.

Danmarks ratifikationsinstrument blev deponeret hos det norske udenrigsministerium den 1. december 2004.

I medfør af artikel 17 trådte overenskomsten i kraft for samtlige lande den 1. januar 2005.

Oplysninger om andre landes tiltrædelse m.v. kan fås hos det norske udenrigsministerium på adressen: www.lovdata.no/traktater/index.html .

Udenrigsministeriet, den 16. juni 2005

Per Stig Møller

Bekendtgørelse

af

overenskomst af 11. februar 2004 om

Den Nordiske Investeringsbank

__________

Efter indhentelse af Folketingets samtykke den 30. november 2004 har Danmark i henhold til kgl. resolution af 30. november 2004 ratificeret en i Helsingfors den 11. februar 2004 udfærdiget overenskomst mellem Danmark, Estland, Finland, Island, Letland, Litauen, Norge og Sverige om Den Nordiske Investeringsbank. Overenskomsten erstatter overenskomst af 23. oktober 1998 mellem Danmark, Finland, Island, Norge og Sverige om Den Nordiske Investeringsbank, jf. Udenrigsministeriets bekendtgørelse nr. 3 af 17. januar 2002, Lovtidende C.

Den nye overenskomst har følgende ordlyd

Oversættelse

OVERENSKOMST MELLEM DANMARK, ESTLAND, FINLAND, ISLAND, LETLAND, LITAUEN, NORGE OG SVERIGE OM DEN NORDISKE INVESTERINGSBANK

Regeringerne i Danmark, Estland, Finland, Island, Letland, Litauen, Norge og Sverige (herefter kaldet ”medlemslandene”), som ønsker at styrke og udbygge deres samarbejde gennem Den Nordiske Investeringsbank, der oprindelig blev grundlagt af de fem nordiske lande i 1975 som en fælles international finansieringsinstitution ligestillet med andre juridiske personer, der udøver tilsvarende virksomhed i og uden for medlemslandene, er blevet enige om følgende

Engelsk udgave