Ioannis Tsakiris, vice-president of the EIB, spoke at the "Turning vision into homes: Slovenia's affordable housing journey" conference in Slovenia, jointly organised by the CEB, the EIB Group and the Slovenian government.
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Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure and honour to be here in Ljubljana at a moment that is truly historic for Slovenia and for Europe.
Today, together with the Council of Europe Development Bank, we are making a joint effort to coordinate and support Slovenia’s national housing strategy, a first-of-its-kind initiative for any EU Member State. With this agreement, two of Europe’s leading financing institutions are joining forces to support Slovenia in delivering its National Housing Strategy and Investment Plan.
And the message of today is clear: When we work together, we can make access to decent and affordable housing a reality.
Across Europe, housing has become one of the most pressing issues on the political agenda. Today’s visit is part of the EIB Group’s roadshow and we are proud that Slovenia is among the first countries to host this initiative. For young people, for families, for teachers, nurses, police officers, for the elderly and for the most vulnerable households. Even though housing is primarily a responsibility of local and national authorities, European institutions have a crucial role to play: filling financing gaps, supporting innovation, and, above all, delivering solutions that improve people’s everyday lives. For the EIB Group, housing is one of our top strategic priorities.
We work closely with the European Commission, with national and municipal authorities, national promotional banks, and private sector partners to provide financing, technical assistance, and expertise across the entire housing value chain. Together with the European Commission and our partners, we are now shaping a new European investment architecture for housing anchored in the EIB Group Action Plan for Affordable and Sustainable Housing.
This new approach is built on three pillars:
1. Innovation in construction
To deliver better, faster and more cost-efficient homes using modern materials, industrialised construction methods and new technologies. In this context, the EIB is advancing Housing TechEU — a new European platform supporting cutting-edge housing technologies: from modular and industrialised construction to digital design, smart energy systems and innovative financing models. Housing TechEU is creating a pan-European innovation ecosystem that connects start-ups, industrial partners and public authorities — accelerating the delivery of affordable homes across Europe.
2. Renovation and energy efficiency
To reduce energy bills, increase performance and make homes more comfortable, safer, and more resilient.
3. New affordable housing supply
Through direct lending to municipalities and public agencies, and through intermediate financial instruments that channel capital to the private sector. With this strategy, we aim to increase our lending for the housing sector to more than €4 billion in 2025, and even more in the years to come, enabling the construction or renovation of 1.3 million homes from 2026 onwards.
Over the past five years, we have:
- financed €15.6 billion in affordable and sustainable housing,
- supported the construction of 265,000 new homes,
- renovated 400,000 dwellings,
- improved housing conditions for 665,000 families.
And we are committed to contributing to the delivery of 1 million new affordable homes by 2030. These numbers show that Europe can move fast and effectively. Today’s signature is not just a formal act. It is a structured, long-term partnership built on a coherent national plan and fully aligned with Europe’s priorities for the green transition, quality of life and social cohesion.
Slovenia has chosen a holistic and modern approach truly at European level:
- aligned policy design,
- coordination across national, local and European levels,
- strategic use of technical assistance and financial tools,
- promotion of innovation in construction,
- and the creation of a strong, investment-ready housing pipeline.
This is why Slovenia is becoming one more reference point for Europe.
I wish to sincerely thank CEB Vice-Governor Tomáš Boček and his team. We share a profound belief that affordable housing is a cornerstone of social cohesion, economic stability and equal opportunities. Our cooperation is now becoming a new European asset, a model of how international institutions can coordinate, complement each other and create real leverage for citizens.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today we are not merely announcing a Joint Commitment to Support Affordable Housing in Slovenia. We are launching a new era for Slovenia’s housing policy. An era where investment is aligned, where institutions cooperate, and where results will be tangible: more homes, better homes, stronger communities.
The EIB and the EIB Group will stand by Slovenia every step of the way. Because we deeply believe that every person deserves a safe, modern, high-quality and affordable home. And we believe that Europe can and must deliver exactly that.
Thank you very much.