The EIB in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)

Overview

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the EU’s third-largest trading partner, consists of four members: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

We have been active in the EFTA countries since the 70s, mainly supporting technology, renewable energy and green transport projects that reduce the carbon footprint. For example, In Norway, we financed the NordLink interconnector for a more climate friendly and integrated energy system; in Iceland, among others, we invested in a new geothermal power station and in Switzerland, we invested in world leading research infrastructures such as the large hadron collider.

Country overview

Find an overview of our impact by country. Additional country pages will follow.

Our stories in the region

We support projects that improve lives all over the world. Watch our videos and read our stories on how our work improves the quality of life in the region.

18 January 2024
Amy Serafin

Smart rolling

Company develops a smart wheelchair system which users control with head gestures giving those with severe muscle diseases more mobility and independence

Mobility United States Austria Germany Finland The Netherlands Switzerland France EFTA countries European Union Research, innovation and technology Transport
19 January 2023
Werner Hoyer

Untangling the polycrisis

As the World Economic Forum in Davos focuses on the ‘polycrisis’, the solution is to see this as a time of ‘polyopportunity’ for investment

Management committee Ukraine Switzerland EFTA countries Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus Climate action and environment Institutional Economics
16 November 2022

The answer is green

While we all know that energy efficiency and renewable energy are the keys to fighting climate change in the long term, they are also a vital part of the solution to the current energy crisis.

Energy efficiency Norway Sweden Iceland Finland Denmark EFTA countries European Union Climate action and environment Energy
30 September 2021
Chris Welsch

Groceries without the waste

Czech company’s food recycling app and smart cups let stores dispense products to customers without using packaging

Technology Austria Switzerland Czech Republic EFTA countries European Union Research, innovation and technology SMEs Digital and telecoms
6 January 2021
Chris Welsch

A rolling steam factory for safer farming

Company dusts off organic farming technology from the 1800s to improve yields

United States Norway EFTA countries Research, innovation and technology Agriculture SMEs
29 November 2019

Climate solutions: Road to Utopia

With better urban transport carbon emissions will drop and our air will be healthier. Here’s how we can head further down the road to the cities — and the climate — of the future.

Infrastructure Norway The Netherlands EFTA countries European Union Climate Infrastructure Transport Climate action and environment
10 November 2017
Raquel Cordoba

3 ways volcanos help cool the planet

Iceland uses its volcanos to produce energy and fight climate change

Climate change Climate Renewable energy Infographic Green bonds Iceland EFTA countries Climate Climate action and environment Energy Capital markets
24 March 2017
Matt Rees

Big science: a decade of innovation

In the first decade of the new millennium, the large hadron collider took European innovation into a new dimension

InnovFin Science History in 6 projects Switzerland EFTA countries Innovation Research, innovation and technology Institutional