Europe Day commemorates the signing of the “Schuman Declaration” on 9 May 1950. An ambitious plan to secure long-term peace in post-war Europe that is considered the beginning of what is now the European Union. The importance of working for peace in Europe is all the more evident, as we highlight our unity and solidarity with Ukraine.
European Investment Bank President Werner Hoyer said that, subject to approval from its governing bodies, the EIB is willing to immediately increase its contribution to the REPowerEU Plan from the current €30 billion package to €45 billion euros in additional financing.
Europe imports more than half of its energy. The war in Ukraine has shown that this must change, and we should reduce our dependency on Russian gas and oil as soon as possible. To achieve this common goal, we should drastically accelerate our clean energy transition and increase Europe's energy independence from unreliable suppliers and volatile fossil fuels. In 2022, the European Investment Bank invested €17 billion in clean energy projects in the EU and supported the European Commission's REPowerEU plan with an additional €30 billion in financing by 2027. Towards a more energy-independent Europe!
Buckle up and discover a normal day in Europe through different projects financed by the European Investment Bank.
Will you recognise some of them?
The journey begins now!
Watch the videoThe EIB strongly condemns the military invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops.
We stand by the Ukrainian authorities and the people of Ukraine.
The European Investment Bank (EIB), the bank of the European Union, and JSC Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) have signed an EU grant agreement in Kyiv worth €6.7 million to back the company’s activities during Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. The EU grant will cover the most urgent needs of Ukraine’s only railway company, which is keeping the country’s economy and people moving amid a brutal second year of war.
The European Investment Bank (EIB), the bank of the European Union, has signed an EU grant agreement for over €50 million with the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine in Kyiv. The funds will support the agency in the emergency acquisition of temporary bridges to improve mobility, helping the country surmount obstacles caused by Russian attacks by connecting the Ukrainian population with the aid and services they need.
Anton Myanovsky owns Gemini Espresso, a young, fast-growing coffee company. Following the Russian aggression in his own county, he saw the frontline approach his coffee plant in March 2022. Anton shares with us how he managed to relocate within a few days his business to Western Ukraine, with the support of a platform by the Bank Lviv and the solidarity of his competitors.
Bank Lviv has created a platform to support small businesses that were forced to relocate because of the war. The platform offers banking and business services. The setting up of the platform received support from the EIB ENTAFI Progamme. Additionally, volunteers from Bank Lviv offer advice free of charge to relocated businesses and connect entrepreners with local business communities.
Find out more about EIB's support to Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine have been awarded the 2023 Charlemagne Prize for their fight to defend democracy against an unprovoked and unjustified war started by Russia. The award underscores the fact that Ukraine is part of Europe and that its people and government – headed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy – support and defend European values, and therefore deserve to enter swiftly into accession negotiations with the European Union.
Italy announced that it will commit €100 million to the trust fund of the EU for Ukraine Initiative, launched by the European Investment Bank (EIB) in March 2023 to support the reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine.
Highlights from the EIB’s participation at the 2023 World Bank Group-IMF Spring Meetings.
EIB President Werner Hoyer and Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska, in charge of the bank's operations in Ukraine, outlined the new “EU for Ukraine Initiative” in Washington DC this week. Presenting the package at the Third Ministerial Roundtable Discussion for Support to Ukraine, President Hoyer said, “Ukraine’s survival does not depend only on ammunition and guns, but in keeping the economy going. This is our focus.”
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska met during the Polish-Ukrainian Economic Forum, which took place in Warsaw on 5 April 2023.
Report on recovery of Ukraine economy calls for more targeted assistance and greater cooperation among aid groups
We have worked in Bulgaria since 1992, financing projects that reduce regional disparities and strengthen economic competitiveness. We helped Sofia to develop an environmentally sustainable transport system that improves the everyday life of its people. We supported Bulgarian businesses suffering from the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bulgaria is one of the largest beneficiaries of the EIB's advisory services. Our advisory support has helped projects across Bulgaria in sectors such as transport, water and the environment.
We have worked in Italy since 1959, financing key infrastructure, such as high-speed trains, renewable energy networks, health, research, education and urban renewal projects. We improved health services during the COVID-19 pandemic for over 3 million patients, supplied 3.7 million households with electricity and made funds available to thousands of small businesses, which are the backbone of the economy. We recently signed a contract with Terna for the east section of its Tyrrhenian link to connect Sicily, Sardinia and mainland Italy via a a 970-kilometre-long underwater cable. The project will contribute to the development of renewable energy sources, power grid reliability and energy security. Find out more about our activity in Italy.
We have worked in Germany since 1960, financing infrastructure projects, innovation and energy efficient affordable housing. We financed major infrastructure projects, such as the electrification of the North-South rail link. We also helped clean up the Emscher River, formerly known as the "Sewer of the Ruhr area", which has been completely wastewater-free since 2021. Our financing helped BioNTech to develop its highly effective COVID-19 vaccine at the beginning of the pandemic. We also supported energy efficient affordable housing and made public transport carbon-free. Find out more about our activity in Germany.
We have worked in Belgium since 1962, financing education and key infrastructure, such as the national railway, Antwerp's port, clean water, renewable energy and digital connectivity. We supported the installation of dozens of wind turbines off the country's coast, providing electricity to over one million households. We financed a state-of-the-art health campus in Leuven, a major initiative in line with European policies for health, education and innovation. We also supported Belgian entrepreneurs and innovators in the medtech and biotech fields. In times of crisis, we stepped up our efforts to provide relief funds to the Walloon region for flood resilience projects and social housing. Find out more about our activities in Belgium.
We have worked in Portugal since 1976, upgrading key infrastructure and improving access to finance for small businesses. We supported urban rehabilitation projects in the city of Lisbon, helping to transform it into a better place for families and businesses. We also invested in The Navigator Company to improve production at the Figueira da Foz pulp plant.
We have worked in Denmark since 1973, financing key transport and digital infrastructure, renewable energy and innovation.
Beside the Øresund Bridge, we played a key role in supporting innovative technologies and the country's green transition. We financed electric locomotives for the Danish State Railways, Vestas Wind Systems's wind power technology and Fredericia - Everfuels green hydrogen production and storage.
We have worked in Sweden since 1994, providing financing and technical assistance for the circular economy, urban infrastructure and services. Our lending has supported affordable, climate-friendly housing.
Swedish innovation is crucial to building a European battery supply chain. To this end, we provided manufacturer Northvolt with support for its new gigafactory in Skellefteå. We also backed a ground-breaking in-land salmon farm to help create a greener, more sustainable food system.
We have worked in Spain since 1981, financing in key infrastructure, education, research and innovation projects. During the pandemic, we supported the pharmaceutical sector by helping HIPRA and Galenicum develop new medicines. We also made it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises to access financing and provided funds to areas with higher healthcare costs. As the EU climate bank, we invested in clean technologies, including Solarias new photovoltaic plants and Talgos low-carbon trains.
In this series, watch our experts provide their insights and shed light on the state of Europe and the world.
For our third episode of What's the Matter? series, we travelled to Ukraine and neighbouring Poland to learn from Ukrainian refugees about the situation one year after the start of the Russian invasion. Olena Zelenska, the first lady of Ukraine, also joined us for an interview to discuss the Olena Zelenska Foundation, which she founded a year ago to channel more global aid to local issues such as healthcare, housing, humanitarian aid, childcare and education.
Did you know that 84% of Europeans say that if we don't drastically reduce energy consumption, we are heading for a global catastrophe? In this episode of What's the matter, we detail the findings of our latest Climate Survey and also check the state of the environment in Europe and around the world.
Did you know that one out of four European companies did not invest in digital transformation last year? When talking about digitalisation, what is the position of Europe in the world? Who is leading? What are the challenges? Is there any link between investing in innovative digital technologies and fighting climate change? Watch the first episode of our new video series to find the answers. Together with EIB experts, we examine the state of digitalisation. From Luxembourg, the heart of Europe, to the whole world: this is What’s the Matter.
Find out more about Digitalisation in Europe 2021-2022.