The European Commission and EIB Global have announced a €1.3 billion financing package to support private sector development, SMEs, and financial institutions in EU partner countries. The initiative will fund infrastructure projects in clean energy, digitalisation, and connectivity, while also strengthening economic ties between the EU and its neighbouring regions. It is backed by a €362 million EFSD+ guarantee under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
The funding will be deployed across the Western Balkans, Eastern Neighbourhood, Türkiye, and the Middle East and North Africa, aiming to stimulate investment, create jobs, and accelerate the green and digital transitions. It also supports broader EU priorities, including energy security, regional integration, and sustainable development under initiatives such as the Global Gateway, the Pact for the Mediterranean, and EU enlargement policy.
EIB Global will channel part of the support through €482 million in financing for local banks, helping key sectors such as agrifood, textiles, innovation, and social projects. In addition, €167 million in guarantees will reduce investment risks for financial intermediaries in the Western Balkans, encouraging more lending for clean energy, energy efficiency, and digital projects.
The package also includes up to €691 million in EIB financing for large-scale infrastructure, including renewable energy and connectivity projects across the Southern Neighbourhood, Western Balkans, and Türkiye. These investments aim to attract additional private capital and strengthen long-term sustainable growth in partner economies.
EU and EIB officials highlighted that the initiative is designed to convert public guarantees into private investment, enabling stronger energy security, improved access to finance for small businesses, and faster progress on digital and climate goals. It is also positioned as a key tool for translating EU enlargement and neighbourhood policy into tangible economic benefits for citizens and businesses.
The programme forms part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and the EFSD+, which together aim to mobilise large-scale public and private investment to reduce global infrastructure gaps. The EIB Group, as the EU’s financial arm, continues to play a central role in supporting climate action, innovation, and sustainable development through blended finance and risk-sharing instruments worldwide.
