The President has asked us to reply and follow up with a call as needed. As the world, and the European Union with it, has come under unprecedented strain due to the current pandemic and economic recession, the EIB is being called to reinforce its mandate to finance sound sustainable investments even further... This immediate response... must however not be interpreted as our readiness to compromise on matters related to environmental and social sustainability. The EIB Environmental and Social (E&S) Standards and Procedures will apply as usual,... To address some of the new challenges and risks that EIB operations are facing in the pandemic context... the EIB is currently developing a series of guidance notes... [which] are expected to be published on the EIB website shortly, and will include a note dedicated to stakeholder engagement... The EIB is advising its promoters to consider postponing active engagement with stakeholders should the project calendar allow that, or to explore alternative channels for enabling some public participation and stakeholder engagement activities in short term... The planning should also identify and address any potential risks of reprisals against anyone expressing their opinion about the EIB financed project in general and against human rights defenders and environmental activists in particular. This may entail considering further measures for ensuring safety and stakeholder protection in the engagement process, such as seeking a “safe space” for virtual or other types of consultations...