WB INNOVATION & GREEN TRANSFORMATION FACILITY LE

The lending envelope (LE) consists of a blended financing facility to foster private sector development in the Western Balkans by supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-caps. The sub-operations will specifically target investments that promote innovation, climate action & environmental sustainability.

By offering local SMEs and Mid-Caps access to medium-to long-term funding, incentives and advisory support for their innovative, digital and green transformation, the operation will help strengthen these companies' competitiveness on the local and EU markets, stimulate exports and promote business expansion, sustainable growth and employment. Moreover, by enhancing the ability of local firms to meet EU standards, the proposed operation will support the Western Balkans' economic convergence with the EU. This facility will significantly contribute to the EIB's key strategic priority high-impact global investment by backing projects in the EU neighbourhood and supporting successful EU enlargement process. Moreover, by supporting agricultural sustainability, the operation will contribute to the strategic priorities of consolidating the ambition of the EIB as the EU climate bank and supporting agriculture and bioeconomy.

This regional Western Balkans Lending Envelope will consist of several sub-operations, blending EIB intermediated finance loans with investments grants and technical assistance funded by the European Commission, to address the sub-optimal financing situation of Small-and-Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Mid-Caps while incentivising them to innovate and invest in their twin digital and green transition.

By enhancing their access to medium to long-term financing, the operation will address the market failures related to access to finance constraining the development of local firms and notably innovative or early-stage companies as well as generate positive externalities due to the targeted green sub-projects. Incentive payments will encourage supported firms to invest in selected Innovation & Digitalization and Climate Action & Environmental Sustainability sectors that are identified as priority areas for private sector development by the European Commission. It will help boost these firms' competitiveness and alignment with EU standards, contribute to economic resilience and support job creation and retention, given the vital role that SMEs play in the local economies. This initiative aligns with the priorities of the EU's Economic and Investment Plan as well as the New Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

It will also support national private sector development objectives and advance several Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), such as SDG9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG13 (Climate Action). To implement this initiative, the EIB will rely on its network of partner financial institutions in the region, most of them being part of major EU banking groups, that have built a strong track record of managing and allocating EIB funds and aim at aligning their activities with EU policy priorities. 

The facility represents an innovative structure for the EIB, designed to encourage local financial intermediaries to introduce a new financial product tailored to SMEs and Mid-Caps, especially for those active in the priority areas of innovation, digitalisation, and environmental sustainability. The EIB's financing package also provides financial advantages to both intermediaries and final beneficiaries by offering longer tenors, grace periods, and flexible repayment terms.

Final beneficiaries will be requested to comply with applicable national and EU legislation, as appropriate.

Final beneficiaries will be requested to comply with applicable national and EU legislation, as appropriate.