Our Role

The EIB, as the Bank of the European Union, is dedicated to shaping the future of Europe. Through investment projects and programmes, we foster balanced development and economic and social cohesion across EU member states, but also outside the EU.

We invest in sound and sustainable projects that help to address important challenges of our societies such as employment, climate change, environmental sustainability, energy, the knowledge economy and infrastructure. As new challenges and opportunities arise, our mission continues to evolve. Today the EIB is a key player in several regions of the world. We are a truly international organisation, active in more than 150 countries.

The EIB is the largest multilateral lending institution in the world, and a leading sovereign-class international borrower. It raises substantial volumes of funds on the capital markets, which it lends on favourable terms to projects furthering European objectives. The Bank’s consistent AAA rating is underpinned by its strong capital base, exceptional asset quality, and a sound risk management and funding strategy. The shareholders of the EIB are the EU Member States.

The EIB, created by the Treaty of Rome, enjoys its own legal personality and financial autonomy within the European Union. It operates in accordance with best banking practices and in close collaboration with the European Commission, other international organisations and institutions, and the public and private sector.