Security and defence

Strengthening Europe’s security and defence requires a pipeline of well-prepared projects and effective financing structures. In 2025, around 2% of advisory assignments contributed to projects that support Europe’s security and critical infrastructure.

Following years of limited investment, advisory support helped address gaps in this sector by identifying promising projects, improving how they are designed and helping promoters find the right financing, in line with the EIB Group’s mandate.

More on EIB Advisory support to the EIB strategic priorities

EIB Advisory support in 2025

Advisory support focused on innovation, resilience and essential infrastructure. Weapons and ammunition remain outside the scope of EIB activities.
In April 2025, through the European public-private partnership Expertise Centre (EPEC), EIB Advisory published a paper on the use of public-private partnerships for security and defence projects. The analysis highlights how these structures can support the delivery, operation and maintenance of complex infrastructure, drawing on experience from countries where such models are already in use.
Through its EPEC initiative, the EIB is increasingly supporting governments, such as Latvia and Lithuania, in developing public-private partnerships for defence-related infrastructure.
Advisory activities also helped smaller companies, financial intermediaries and public authorities better understand funding tools, new financing mechanisms focused on defence and dual-use technologies, and public-private partnerships for complex infrastructure projects.

ADVISORY STORIES

Building Latvia’s defence resilience

The Selonia region in south-east Lativa, known for its forests, farmland and rural communities, is about to take on a new strategic role. The government plans to build a modern military base and training area, one of the country’s biggest security investments in recent years.

Further west, in the historic municipality of Kuldīga, plans are underway for a new storage facility that supports logistics and military operations. These sites will strengthen Latvia’s defence and contribute to the security of the wider Baltic region.

“Public-private partnerships have been identified as an effective and forward-looking model that we can apply in the future for the development of defence infrastructure”

Andris Sprūds

Latvian Minister of Defence

Featured publication

Public-private partnerships in security and defence

Public-private partnerships are being used by a range of governments across Europe to deliver security and defence projects. As countries accelerate investments in this sector, these partnerships can make projects more cost effective, draw in private sector innovation and help ensure that the work gets done on time. This publication explains some of the reasons for using a partnership approach on security and defence projects. We also analyse the size and complexity of the European market, outline the key players and offer project examples.

Read the report

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9 October 2025

Latvia to strengthen defence infrastructure with EIB advisory support

The European Investment Bank (EIB), the Latvian government and the State Real Estate Agency (VNI) have joined forces to develop a military base and training area in the southeastern region of Selonia, along with a storage facility in Kuldīga Municipality. The initiative aims to enhance both national and regional defence capabilities.

8 May 2025

EIB to advise on development of military base in Lithuania

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is teaming up with the Lithuanian government to support the development in Lithuania of the Rūdninkai military base, a key project to enhance North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) operations and regional security. Under an accord signed today in Vilnius, the EIB will provide advisory services to ensure that public-private partnership (PPP) agreements linked to the planned base near the border with Belarus meet market standards and follow best practices.