Berlin Hyp, which issued the first Green covered bond, has joined the European Covered Bond Council (ECBC), with both parties citing the ECBC-EMF-led Energy Efficient Mortgages initiative as a focus.

Berlin Hyp launched its green Pfandbrief, a Eu500m seven year issue, in April 2015. Bodo Winkler, Berlin Hyp’s head of credit treasury and investor relations, is a member of the finance and banking needs committee of the Energy Efficient Mortgages initiative, which the ECBC launched in September.

“The ECBC is the well-recognised think tank and international voice of the covered bond industry,” said Sven Schukat, head of treasury at Berlin Hyp. “We look forward to contributing to their important work on various upcoming regulatory and market-related covered bond issues.

“Moreover, we are especially excited about the collaboration with other market participants and stakeholders in the European Energy Efficient Mortgages financing initiative.”

The ECBC announced the German lender’s joining today (Monday).

“We are delighted to have the pioneer of Green Pfandbriefs on board the ECBC,” said Luca Bertalot, EMF-ECBC secretary general. “Berlin Hyp’s experience with green issuances and expertise in selecting and classifying green building data will make an important contribution to the European Energy Efficient Mortgages financing initiative, which will be one of the ECBC’s main areas of focus in 2017.”