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The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group Boards of Directors authorised €17.4 billion in fresh financing during meetings in Luxembourg to strengthen Europe’s energy autonomy, competitiveness and partnerships with Ukraine and other nations beyond the bloc. Of that total, €3.7 billion will support projects designed to reduce dependence on fossil fuels while accelerating the clean energy transition. Those funds will back nuclear power upgrades in Romania, expanded electricity networks in Belgium and Spain, new wind farms in Germany and additional solar generation capacity in France, according to the EIB Group statement.
The statement detailed an €800 million loan for refurbishment and life extension of one reactor at Romania’s Cernavodă nuclear power plant, which supplies around 20 percent of the country’s electricity. Key component replacements and system upgrades under the project will enable a further cycle of safe, reliable operation at Unit 1. EIB Group President Nadia Calviño said, “The EIB Group is financing important projects for Europe’s security and autonomy, bringing affordable energy to households and businesses.” Calviño added that the bank remains on track for another record year featuring heavy investment in grids, interconnectors and clean technologies.
Beyond the energy portfolio, the EIB Board endorsed loans for new trains in Austria, hospital upgrades in the Czech Republic, expanded cultural and sports facilities in Sweden, and modernisation of kindergartens and schools in Lithuania. The package also includes support for businesses seeking to improve competitiveness in Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. These approvals form part of a broader effort to bolster social infrastructure and economic resilience across the European Union, the EIB Group reported.
The EIB and European Investment Fund (EIF) Boards took steps to expand securitisation activity that will unlock additional lending capacity for European businesses. The EIB doubled its pan-European securitisation programme to €6 billion while the EIF approved multiple securitisation and guarantee transactions aligned with the EU savings and investments union. Such operations are expected to channel more private capital toward green projects, innovation and the clean transition, the announcement stated.
In Ukraine the EIB Group backed upgrades to border-crossing points along Trans-European Transport Network roads linking the country with EU member states and Moldova. The improvements encompass new terminals, customs equipment and digital systems intended to ease trade and transit flows. The financing package further extends support to Ukrainian businesses as part of sustained efforts to aid the country’s economic recovery and resilience, according to the EIB statement.
Strategic investments in EU partner countries include wind energy developments in Egypt, solar power installations and electricity grid enhancements in Tunisia, and sustainable agriculture initiatives in Moldova. These projects align with the EU Global Gateway strategy aimed at reinforcing international partnerships and elevating Europe’s global role, the EIB Group explained. The approvals build on the bank’s 2025 performance in which it signed €100 billion for more than 870 projects across eight policy priorities.
