The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group has secured approval from the 27 Member States to raise its financing ceiling to a record €100 billion for the year 2025. This increase aims to bolster investments in key areas such as security and defence, energy grid development, and technological advancement in Europe.
During a recent meeting in Luxembourg, the EIB Board of Governors, composed of EU Finance Ministers, endorsed this ambitious financing plan. Among the new allocations, 3.5% of the total financing will specifically support European security and defence initiatives. Additionally, the EIB has approved significant projects, including the construction of a military base in Lithuania, which is intended to enhance NATO operations in the region.
EIB Group President Nadia Calviño highlighted the importance of this unanimous support from Member States. “Our proposals to provide record financing for defence, energy security, and technological leadership demonstrate the EIB Group’s role in supporting Europe’s strategic priorities,” she stated.
This new financing plan is part of a broader operational review, which includes over €11 billion earmarked for power grids and energy storage in Europe. The EIB is also initiating the TechEU programme, the largest financing initiative to date aimed at fostering innovation and technological leadership within the EU. TechEU will allocate €70 billion in equity, quasi-equity, loans, and guarantees from 2025 to 2027, with the goal of attracting at least €250 billion in private investments.
TechEU is designed to support high-risk projects across various sectors, including supercomputing, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, offshore wind energy, and health technologies. The aim is to assist innovative companies at all development stages, from startups to publicly listed firms.
To further support Europe’s cleantech sector, the EIB has approved several new financial instruments aligned with the EU Clean Industrial Deal. This includes a €1.5 billion package that offers counter-guarantees through partner banks to manufacturers of grid components, ensuring a sustainable supply chain and facilitating the integration of renewable energy into the grid.
Additionally, the EIB and the European Commission are launching a €500 million pilot programme to promote corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs), enabling mid-sized and larger companies to secure long-term contracts for clean electricity generation. This move aims to stabilize energy costs and stimulate investments in green energy.
A €250 million CleantechEU guarantee scheme will also be introduced to provide liquidity and working capital for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises focused on green technologies. Moreover, a €1.5 billion enhancement to an existing EIB programme will support European wind turbine and component manufacturers.
Czech Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura has taken over as the new chair of the Board of Governors, emphasizing the EIB’s vital role in addressing European challenges such as energy security and affordable housing. He expressed his eagerness to collaborate with EIB President Calviño and other EU Finance Ministers to advance these objectives.
The EIB has also launched new operations totaling €12.8 billion aimed at strengthening Europe’s defence capabilities and energy security. This includes backing for renewable energy projects in Colombia and sustainable transport initiatives in Nigeria, as well as support for infrastructure improvements in Romania and water sanitation services in Tanzania.
As part of its commitment to innovation and investment, the EIB Group is focusing on integrating strategic priorities across various sectors, ensuring Europe remains competitive and secure in a rapidly changing global landscape.
