Much to the unease of its own officials in Luxembourg, the EIB is already being asked to take on an ever-greater role in Europe's rescue programmes. EU leaders agreed to beef up its capital by €67bn to €232bn in December. Lending is to rise by 30pc to over €60bn this year with extra spending on green vehicles – which some say is a disguised bail-out for the car industry – as well as energy projects and small businesses.