Report Overview
Lending, impact and borrowing data on the EIB Group’s work within the EU and around the globe
From climate action to capital markets union, here's how we boost growth, prosperity, and technological and social progress in our member states, across the whole European Union and around the world.
What the EIB Group aims to achieve in 2025
How the Bank is managed
2024 Highlights
Climate action
“By supporting Europe’s most promising cleantech ventures, we aim to drive our energy transition forward, foster economic resilience and secure Europe’s position in the global clean economy.”
Irene Gálvez Verdú, head of cleantech equity and growth capital, EIB Operations
Digitalisation and technological innovation
“Our strong engagement in financing innovation and digitalisation supports Europe’s efforts to increase its competitiveness. It increases Europe’s innovation capacity – and ultimately increases jobs in Europe.”
Christine Garburg, head of Baltic Sea and Northern Europe corporates, EIB Operations
Security and defence
“We play a crucial role in enhancing Europe’s security and defence by financing vital infrastructure and supporting companies that drive innovation in the sector. Our targeted financing empowers European industries to respond to evolving threats and to support a secure, autonomous Europe.”
Timo Kiiha, head of public sector lending (Austria, Germany and Nordics), EIB Operations
Reinventing Esbjerg
Danish port to serve military vessels and offshore wind industry
A modern cohesion policy
“Cohesion policy is the glue that holds our societies together. We play a central role in fostering cohesion across the European Union by financing projects that reduce regional disparities, promote sustainable development and enhance economic and social integration.”
Romolo Isaia, head of lending to Slovenia, Croatia and Italian corporates, EIB Operations
‘A tough decision’
How Ischia is rebuilding after a devastating earthquake and landslide
Rooftop transition
Logistics company WDP equips its warehouses with EV charging stations and rooftop solar panels, helping tenants transition to green energy
Expanding green energy
Elektro Ljubljana, the largest distribution network in Slovenia, takes on the modernisation of electrical distribution grids and accelerates the energy transition
Agriculture and bioeconomy
“Our work in agriculture and the bioeconomy strengthens Europe’s resilience and creates quality jobs.”
Gilles Badot, head of lending to Iberia and the Adriatic, EIB Operations
High-impact global investment
“We make public transport and urban spaces safer and more accessible for all, and we enable female farmers to reach their full potential. We are doubling down on women’s resilience and leadership.”
Yasmine Pagni, head of social policy, EIB Projects
Capital markets union
“We continue our pioneering journey to showcase the potential of distributed ledger technologies in fostering transparency, efficiency and security in capital markets.”
Marco Zimmermann, head of treasury and capital markets department, EIB Finance Directorate
Platforms for capital
Capital Markets Union will boost securitisation and venture capital markets to increase investment in the real economy. Some European pioneers are already showing how this could work
Group Operational Plan 2025-2027 highlights
- Business growth and competitiveness
- Higher-risk venture debt investments
- Research and development in disruptive technologies
- Renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure
- Security and defence
Far-reaching technological changes, the increasing costs of climate change and demand for more investment in defence, housing and global needs are the expected focus for 2025 to 2027.
Our total signed deals are expected to increase to about €95 billion in 2025.
The Bank’s finance in climate action and environmental sustainability will continue to exceed 50% in 2025. We will step up support for business growth and competitiveness while investing more money in higher-risk equity and venture debt projects.
Our work in Europe in 2025 will support sectors such as renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure, energy grids and interconnectors, better car manufacturing, more green hydrogen and storage, and reduced carbon emissions in heavy industry.
In the area of innovation, we will support a new Strategic TechEU programme to increase financing for research, digitalisation and technology. We will increase investments for new technologies such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, biotechnology and health sciences.
The EIB Group will step up assistance provided to security and defence industries. Partnership agreements have already been signed with the NATO Innovation Fund and with the European Defence Agency.
We will expand financial and advisory support for affordable housing, especially for younger generations. We will put a greater emphasis on three areas: research for new building technologies, energy efficiency of older housing and new construction in affordable housing.
We expect to offer new initiatives in 2025 for a stronger capital markets union in Europe. We will present concrete proposals to contribute to more robust green and digital bond markets to help European companies get more finance from the public and private sectors. The European Investment Fund has a key role to play in leading the venture capital sector.
Beyond the European Union, EIB Global will focus on sectors such as water supplies, small businesses and energy efficiency. We will keep supporting Ukraine and the enlargement of the European Union to the east. The Mediterranean region and sub-Saharan Africa will remain the main destinations for our global work.
Finally, the EIB Group will continue to simplify processes to offer faster financial and advisory support for European competitiveness. We will put forward ambitious proposals to simplify financing mandates, reduce reporting requirements and cut red tape.
Governance
The EIB is an EU body, accountable to the Member States, and a bank following applicable best banking practice in decision-making, management and controls.
The Board of Governors is made up of government ministers from each of the 27 EU Member States, usually ministers of finance. The governors set out the Bank’s credit policy guidelines and once a year approve the annual accounts. They decide on capital increases and the Bank’s participation in financing operations outside the European Union. They also appoint the Board of Directors, the Management Committee and the Audit Committee.
The Board of Directors takes decisions on loans, borrowing programmes and other financing matters. It meets once a month to ensure that the Bank runs in accordance with EU treaties, the Bank’s own Statute and general directives laid down by the Board of Governors. There are 28 directors, one nominated by each Member State and one by the European Commission. There are also 31 alternate directors. To broaden the professional expertise of the Board of Directors, six experts have been co-opted to participate in board meetings as non-voting advisors. Decisions are taken by a majority representing at least 50% of the capital subscribed by the Member States and one-third of board members entitled to vote, unless otherwise provided for in the Statute. The board is chaired by the president, in a non-voting capacity.
The Management Committee is the Bank’s resident decision-making body. It oversees the day-to-day running of the Bank, prepares decisions for the Board of Directors and ensures that these are implemented. It meets once a week. The Management Committee works under the authority of the president and the supervision of the Board of Directors. The other eight members are the EIB’s vice-presidents. Members are appointed for a renewable period of six years and are responsible solely to the Bank.
The Bank has an independent Audit Committee answerable directly to the Board of Governors. It is responsible for the audit of the EIB and the EIB Group’s accounts, for annual verification that EIB operations are conducted – and its books kept – in a proper manner, and for verifying that the activities of the Bank conform to best banking practice. The annual report of the Audit Committee for the financial year is submitted to the Board of Governors with the Management Committee response. The Audit Committee is composed of six members appointed for a non-renewable term of six consecutive financial years. In addition, three observers may be appointed by the Board of Governors to support the committee with specific tasks.
Social infrastructure
“Investing in the education of our children – in other words our future – is a unique opportunity to overcome challenges to our prosperity and freedom. The Bank plays a fundamental role in supporting all levels of education and improving the skills of European students.”
Patricia Castellarnau, head of education and public research, EIB Projects
Rooms to grow
Students in Cyprus struggle to find affordable housing. A Cypriot university and municipality are building modern, sustainable accommodation to tackle the issue
Lots of room to rent
Vienna's regenerated Nordbahnhof quarter shows that Austria leads the way in affordable housing. Here's how they do it
Ostrava’s encore
Ostrava reinvents itself with a state-of-the-art concert hall and House of Culture, transforming the city into a modern metropolis with a vibrant cultural sector
No oxymoron
An ‘ethical bank’ addresses unmet needs by supporting women-led businesses, projects in poorer regions, and empowering refugees across Italy