In 2025, the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group significantly increased its financing in Lithuania, rising 29% to €577 million, with a strong focus on security, defence, renewable energy, and water infrastructure. This growth reflects Lithuania’s strategic priorities, supporting the country’s resilience, infrastructure, and economic development while mobilising total investments of €1.4 billion, equivalent to 1.7% of the national GDP. The funding helped sustain over 17,000 jobs and supported around 1,500 SMEs and mid-sized enterprises across the country.
Key projects included a €300 million loan to the Lithuanian government for defence investments, covering harbour boats, medical equipment, and training infrastructure, alongside a €100 million loan to Ignitis Group for the Kelmė onshore wind farm, the largest in the Baltic region capable of powering 250,000 households. Additionally, €50 million was lent to Vilniaus vandenys for upgrades to water and wastewater systems in the capital region, highlighting the EIB’s commitment to essential public services.
EIB Group support is set to continue prioritising defence, with a planned €540 million loan for the construction of a military base in Rūdninkai near the Belarusian border. This project aims to enhance Lithuania’s defence readiness, logistics capabilities, and NATO interoperability, with the EIB also providing advisory services to ensure public-private partnership agreements meet market standards.
The European Investment Fund (EIF), part of the EIB Group, expanded access to finance for Lithuanian SMEs, supporting green lending through new guarantees with RATO Credit Union and backing private debt funds like Sound Senior under ILTE programmes. Additional guarantees for banks including Mano Bankas, SME Finance, and Noviti enabled further lending to SMEs and micro-enterprises, fostering broader economic growth and business development.
Overall, EIB Group financing in Lithuania demonstrates a dual focus on strategic infrastructure, including security and renewable energy, and support for economic competitiveness and SMEs, aligning with EU policy priorities for sustainable, resilient, and secure growth in the region.
