The European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Investment Fund (EIF) Boards have approved a combined €15.5 billion in new financing. This funding will support business innovation, transport and energy infrastructure, housing, education, and water resilience projects. Specifically, €14.5 billion was approved by the EIB Board, while the EIF Board authorized €1 billion in new commitments focused on green transition initiatives, venture capital, private equity, and infrastructure development.
A key highlight of the board meeting was the endorsement of the EIB Group Water Resilience Programme, developed in collaboration with the European Commission’s Water Resilience Strategy. The programme aims to mobilize €40 billion globally over the next three years to expand access to clean water, increase water security for communities, and enhance the competitiveness of the EU water sector. New projects to modernize water and wastewater networks in Greece and the Netherlands were also approved.
In the transport sector, the EIB agreed to support rail infrastructure in Estonia, Germany, and Italy, road network improvements in Poland, Romania, and Moldova, and airport energy efficiency upgrades in France, Germany, and Spain.
The approved energy investments will enhance electricity grids in France, Germany, and South America. Additional funding will improve industrial energy efficiency in Portugal and support biofuel production in Italy, advancing EU energy transition goals.
Three housing projects received EIB backing to streamline funding for constructing energy-efficient homes, renovating existing buildings, and installing solar energy systems in Germany. In Portugal, the investment will facilitate the development and refurbishment of affordable housing.
To promote business growth and innovation, the EIB approved financing for enterprises in Croatia, Italy, Poland, and Spain. It will also support innovation in the Western Balkans and ecological restoration through forest and wetland reforestation in Africa. Further funding will go to private-sector development in North Africa and the Middle East, including initiatives aligned with the EU’s Multiannual Comprehensive Programme for Palestine.
Additional projects include financing for recycling critical raw materials in Germany, producing low-carbon fertilisers in South America, innovative waste-treatment facilities in Spain, and pharmaceutical research across Europe.
The EIF approved €278 million in new debt operations and €725 million in venture capital, private equity, and private credit transactions. These funds will support clean energy, decarbonisation, biodiversity preservation, biotech company growth, sustainable business models, and early-stage venture capital.
In a parallel development, the EIB Group has expanded its criteria for security and defence-related financing. Following a comprehensive market review, both Boards approved a revised list of excluded activities, paving the way for increased support to EU-based security and defence industries, while maintaining the Group’s financial integrity.
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