The Guide to Procurement outlines the EIB’s project procurement policy. Its purpose is to inform borrowers and project promoters whose contracts are financed by the EIB of the arrangements for procuring works, goods and services required for their projects.
Borrowers and promoters are fully responsible for implementing projects financed by the Bank, including all procurement activities, from drafting tender documents to awarding and implementing contracts.
The involvement of the Bank is confined solely to verifying whether the conditions attached to its financing are met. The Bank may advise or assist promoters in the procurement process but is not a party to the resulting contracts.
Our procurement policy
Principles-based policy
The EIB procurement policy is principles-based, stemming from the EU Treaties and the EIB Statute: economy, efficiency, open international competition, equal treatment, non-discrimination, mutual recognition, proportionality, and transparency.
Dual approach
The EIB employs a dual approach to procurement as both an EU body and a multilateral development bank (MDB). Within the EU, the Guide to Procurement requires that the applicable EU Law on public procurement is applied. Outside the EU, the Guide to Procurement follows a hybrid approach, applying the main mechanisms of the EU procurement directives and MDBs’ best international practices.
Partnering for impact
The EIB has concluded mutual reliance agreements with several international financial institutions that allow them to rely on each other's procurement policies, procedures, and monitoring by the designated lead financier in co-financed operations outside the EU.
Environmental and social policy
The Bank requires all projects to comply with its environmental and social requirements. Promoters are encouraged to contribute to protecting the environment, human well-being, human rights, gender equality, combating climate change, and promoting sustainable development. Tenderers and sub-contractors are required to execute the environmental and social covenant in operations outside the EU.
Project procurement complaints
Promoters are required to review, take necessary actions to address, and respond in a timely manner to project procurement complaints. In addition, any member of the public may refer to a procurement complaint to the EIB.
Prohibited conduct
The Bank is committed to ensuring that its operations are free from prohibited conduct. In its operations outside the EU, it requires that the covenant of integrity be provided and executed by any tenderer as a condition of eligibility.
Excluded entities
Within its Exclusion Policy, the Bank may declare an individual or a firm ineligible for the award of a contract under any EIB-financed project, if it is established that they engaged in prohibited conduct during procurement or contract implementation.
Market outreach
Business opportunities
Obtain information on contract notices for ongoing opportunities to supply goods, civil works, consulting and non-consulting services in projects financed by the EIB outside the EU.
All projects
Find out more about the projects the EIB considers financing or is already financing.
Promoters corner
- June 2025 - Procurement planning (EN).
- May 2025 - General principles on project procurement (EN).
- April 2025 - Evaluation criteria (EN).
- February 2025 - Contract management in projects financed by the EIB (FR). Watch the video recording.
- July 2024 - Tender evaluation reports – EIB requirements and best practices (EN). Watch the video recording
- March 2024 - Contract management in projects financed by the EIB (EN). Watch the video recording
- February 2024 - Procurement policy for EIB-financed projects (FR).
- January 2024 - Tender documents requirements as per EIB Guide to Procurement (EN). Watch the video recording
- June 2023 - Procurement in projects financed by the EIB (EN). Watch the video recording