The Finance Ministers of the European Union have given their backing this Friday to the new strategy of the European Investment Bank (EIB), which seeks to expand its financing capacity and accept a higher level of risk in order to mobilize more resources towards defense projects, energy security, and technological innovation.
The Twenty-Seven, meeting in Luxembourg at the EIB's board of governors, have supported the objective that by 2026 the bank will allocate 5% of all its financing within the EU to initiatives linked to security and defense. This purpose comes after the institution has quadrupled this type of operation to exceed 4 billion euros in 2025, as indicated by the bank itself in a statement.
The entity plans to maintain a loan volume of 100 billion euros this year, a figure it also expects to repeat in 2025. According to the data provided to the ministers, the group has intensified its activity in areas such as energy networks, transport, water management, housing, and support for Ukraine.
In the energy sector, the EIB has highlighted that it finances around half of the investments in electricity grids in Europe and participates in one out of five solar projects, one out of three onshore wind farms, and most of the block's offshore wind energy developments.
In addition, it has highlighted the progress of its energy efficiency programs aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises, with the purpose, it argues, of helping some 350,000 companies cut their energy bills and advance in the decarbonization of their processes.
COMMITMENT TO TECHNOLOGICAL SOVEREIGNTY
Another central pillar of the strategy consists of strengthening the EU's technological sovereignty through "TechEU," the main European financial program oriented towards artificial intelligence projects, clean technologies, advanced technologies, and digital infrastructures.
The group assures that it committed more than 22 billion euros to initiatives associated with this program during the last year and plans to intensify support for startups and fast-growing companies to prevent strategic technological projects developed in Europe from depending on foreign capital.
Within this framework, the European Investment Fund, the group's arm specialized in SMEs and venture capital, will promote an expansion of the European Tech Champions Initiative, created in 2023, with the goal of mobilizing up to 15 billion euros and attracting new public and private investors.
DEFENSE AND SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE
The entity has also expanded the eligibility criteria for its loans to cover military projects and investments related to the entire European security and defense supply chain, from critical infrastructure and military facilities to research and development activities or support for small and medium-sized enterprises in the sector.
Outside the EU's borders, the EIB has reiterated that Ukraine will remain its top priority and has emphasized that in 2025 it approved a record volume of financing for projects aimed at strengthening the country's economic resilience and ensuring the provision of basic services.