The European Investment Bank approves 7.9 billion euros for innovation, infrastructure, Ukraine, and global partnerships

The European Investment Bank Group has approved 7.9 billion euros in new financing to strengthen Europe's technological leadership, critical infrastructure, and global partnerships. The package includes 3 billion euros through TechEU for broadband connectivity and pharmaceutical research in Germany, support for European funds focused on artificial intelligence and deep tech, as well as funding for Ukraine, renewable energy, transport, digital infrastructure, and companies.

The European Investment Bank Group has approved 7.9 billion euros in new financing for innovation projects, critical infrastructure, sustainability, and global partnerships. The decisions cover investments in digital connectivity, pharmaceutical research, artificial intelligence, deep tech, clean energy, transport, water, housing, social infrastructure, and support for Ukraine.

In short

The European Investment Bank Group has approved 7.9 billion euros in new financing for innovation, infrastructure, and global partnerships.

The package includes 3 billion euros through TechEU for broadband connectivity and pharmaceutical research and development in Germany.

The European Investment Fund has approved support for capital agreements dedicated to European funds focused on artificial intelligence and deep tech.

Outside the European Union, the financing includes support for the private sector and the reconstruction of Ukraine, as well as projects in Côte d'Ivoire and Kazakhstan.

The new decisions were announced ahead of the annual meeting of the EIB's Board of Governors, composed of the finance ministers of the European Union.

The EIB specifies that the approved operations include 3 billion euros through TechEU for expanding broadband connectivity and for research and development in the pharmaceutical field in Germany. The financing also covers investments in smart and energy-efficient lighting in the Netherlands, as well as projects in life sciences, including biotechnology, at the level of the European Union.

The European Investment Fund, part of the EIB Group, has approved support for capital agreements that support European funds oriented towards artificial intelligence and deep tech. The President of the EIB Group, Nadia Calviño, stated that the approved projects "support investments where the security and prosperity of tomorrow will be built," adding that the EIB helps innovators to expand, compete globally, and ensure Europe's technological advantage.

The EIB's Board of Directors has also authorized projects in France in the fields of water management, social infrastructure, and sustainable transport, including new trains and buses. Other operations target new schools in Finland, affordable housing in Slovenia, funding for companies in Italy, and wind energy in Poland.

The European Investment Fund has also supported a series of investments in health, clean energy, circular economy, and the competitiveness of companies in Europe. These operations fall within the EIF's mandate to improve access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises, startups, and European investment funds.

In Ukraine, the EIB has approved financing for the private sector and the reconstruction of the country. The support covers renewable energy, transport, digital infrastructure, and companies, and the institution affirms that Ukraine remains a priority for the EIB Group by supporting essential services and the economy.

Outside the European Union, the package includes financing for companies in the value chains of the cocoa sector in Côte d'Ivoire and for the rehabilitation of roads along the Trans-Caspian transport corridor in Kazakhstan. The EIB links these projects to Europe's global partnerships and the European Union's Global Gateway strategy.

The new financing decisions were announced a day before the annual meeting in Luxembourg of the EIB Group's Board of Governors, composed of the finance ministers of the European Union. The meeting was to discuss how the EIB Group can further advance the priorities of the European Union.

The EIB Group is the financial arm of the European Union, owned by the 27 member states. By 2025, the institution has signed financing and consulting services of 100 billion euros for over 870 high-impact projects in areas such as climate, digitalization, security and defense, territorial cohesion, agriculture, bioeconomy, social infrastructure, global partnerships, and the union of economies and investments.

The European Investment Fund is the EIB Group's subsidiary specialized in guarantees, securitization, and capital for access to financing for SMEs and startups. In 2023, the EIF, together with France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands, launched the European Tech Champions Initiative, which has so far contributed to the creation of 15 European megafunds of venture capital and the scaling of 45 companies, including 12 unicorns.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/banca-europeana-de-investitii-aproba-79-miliarde-de-euro-pentru-inovare-infrastructura-ucraina-si-parteneriate-globale