The EIB Group celebrates four decades of shared prosperity for Spain and the EU and the positive impact of European financing on the lives of millions

“The EIB Group is a key partner in Spain’s progress, and wherever there is a major, flagship project with a positive impact, the European flag and the EIB Group are there. Since the European Investment Bank Group started to operate in the country, it has injected an amount equivalent to 15% of Spain’s GDP in 2025 into the Spanish economy.”  Nadia Calviño, EIB Group president

• Today, the EIB Group marked the 40^th anniversary of Spain’s membership of the EU at an event in Madrid at which it showcased its role in the transformation of the country and the positive impact of its investments on millions of citizens.
• EIB Group president, Nadia Calviño, hosted the event that also featured the head of the European Commission Representation in Spain, Daniel Calleja, the dean of the Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po, Arancha González Laya and senior representatives of public and private institutions.

Click here to access the recording of the event, including the opening address made by EIB Group president Nadia Calviño, together with the various panel discussions: Four decades of shared prosperity: The EIB Group in Spain

The European Investment Bank Group (EIB Group), which comprises the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF) held an event today in Madrid entitled Four decades of shared prosperity: The EIB Group in Spain.

The event marked the 40^th anniversary of Spain’s accession to the EU (which, in 1986, was known as the European Community) and celebrated the positive impact that EIB Group financing and investment have had on the transformation of the country and the lives of millions of people. Over the course of the day, various representatives from public and private institutions also offered insights into Spain’s role in the EU and the current challenges facing the European project.

In her opening address, EIB Group president, Nadia Calviño, noted that “the EIB Group is a key partner in Spain’s progress, and wherever there is a major, flagship project with a positive impact, the European flag and the EIB Group are there. Since the European Investment Bank Group started to operate in the country, it has injected an amount equivalent to 15% of Spain’s GDP in 2025 into the Spanish economy”. She underlined that “the result of this strategic partnership is a more modern and dynamic Spain that is helping to build a stronger, more cohesive Europe.”

In his remarks, the head of the European Commission Representation in Spain Daniel Calleja emphasised that “cooperation between the European Commission and the EIB Group is one of the best examples of how we can work together to turn the political priorities of the European Union into concrete results for citizens.”

 Calleja stressed that “our close cooperation will continue to be pivotal to the future European agenda, helping to deliver a successful energy transition, strengthen our economic security, promote technological innovation, safeguard our strategic autonomy and offer our citizens more affordable housing. The best way to honour these 40 years of the EIB Group is to keep building the Europe of the future together.”

During the event, Calviño also took part in a discussion with young entrepreneurs Patricia Aymá, co-founder and president of Benviro, and Cristina Aleixendri, co-founder and CEO of Bound4blue. Together, they explored the challenges that lie ahead for Europe and the EIB Group’s role at a time of intense global change. 

Representatives from key institutions for the Spanish economy that have ongoing strategic partnerships with the EIB Group had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion entitled: The EIB Group and its partners: investment, impact and the future. The panel, moderated by the head of the EIB Group Office in Spain, María Romano, included participants from the public sector (Inés Carpio San Román, General Director of International Finance, General Secretariat of the Treasury and International Financing, Ministry of the Economy, Trade and Enterprise), innovation (Jordi Carrera, CEO, Deepull), venture capital (Beatriz González, Founder and Managing Partner, Seaya), banking (Felipe Oriol, Managing Director of CIB & FIG, CaixaBank) and industry (Carmen de Pablo, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Strategy and Sustainability, Moeve Global).

The discussion focused on how Europe’s priorities can be translated into tangible investment in Spain. Participants highlighted that the EIB Group's impact is built on a partnership model that combines policy design, investment mobilisation, business support, risk mitigation and industrial transformation. From support for high-risk biomedical innovation to financing for small and medium businesses and major energy transition projects, the discussion demonstrated that Europe’s ability to invest greater amounts more effectively depends on a close collaboration between public and private stakeholders, underpinned by a combination of strategic ambition and effective delivery.

Arancha González Laya, dean of the Paris School of International Affairs, Sciences Po closed the event by noting that “the EIB plays a leading role in helping the EU to become a geopolitical actor that is able to shape its own future. Spain will be better off with a strong EIB in a more autonomous EU.”

Impact of EIB Group investment in Spain

• Better infrastructure such as high-speed railways, metros, tramways, ports and airports. €14.7 billion have been invested in high-speed railway projects.
• EIB financing is pivotal to decarbonisation, the development of new technologies and the promotion of innovation. In the last five years, this financing has helped to bring renewable energy to 30 million people.
• Between 2021 and 2025, the EIB has financed the construction or modernisation of 45,000 kilometres of electricity networks in Spain – enough to span the Earth’s entire circumference.
• Over the same period, EIB investments have reduced flood risk for almost 3 million people.
• The EIB has contributed to the reforestation of an area of Spain equivalent to the combined size of Asturias and Cantabria.
• Thanks to EIB backing, more affordable housing is being built and four out of every ten Spanish citizens now have access to improved healthcare services.
• The Group has also been an unwavering partner for Spain, as it has demonstrated during times of financial crisis or in emergencies such as the Prestige disaster, the catastrophic flooding or the Lorca earthquake.

Background information

EIB Group 

The European Investment Bank (EIB Group) is the financing arm of the European Union, owned by the 27 Member States, and one of the largest multilateral development banks in the world. In 2025, the EIB Group signed €100 billion in new financing and advisory services for over 870 high-impact projects under eight core priorities that support EU policy objectives: climate action and environmental sustainability, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, territorial cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, strong global partnerships and the savings and investments union. Beyond long-term loans for large infrastructure, the EIB Group attracts private investment for high-risk innovative projects and businesses, with a growing role in Europe’s markets for venture debt, venture capital, guarantees and securitisations.  

In 2025, the EIB Group completed financing and investment operations in Spain totalling around €11 billion, which came alongside an additional €2.9 billion under the Regional Resilience Fund (NextGeneration EU loans). 

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is the subsidiary of the EIB Group specialised in providing guarantees and equity to improve access to finance for small and medium-sized businesses and startups across Europe. Acting as an anchor investor, through its extensive network of partnering banks and investment funds, the EIF mobilises private investment and nurtures the ecosystem of venture capital funds to support innovative European entrepreneurs. In 2023, the EIF, together with six European Union Member States (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands), launched the European Tech Champions Initiative (ETCI), a fund of funds intended to scale up innovative startups. This initiative has already enabled the creation of 15 European venture capital mega funds and scaled up 43 companies, including 12 unicorns (companies with a valuation exceeding €1 billion). 

Photos of the EIB Group’s representatives and headquarters, logo files and video B-roll for media use are available here.