LUXEMBOURG, / RankWire.AI / July 16, 2026: The European Investment Bank Group has approved €17.4 billion in new financing aimed at sectors including energy, transport, healthcare, education, and business development. Of this, €3.7 billion is dedicated to projects designed to decrease Europe’s reliance on fossil fuels. This package, endorsed by the boards of the European Investment Bank and its subsidiary, the European Investment Fund, includes an €800 million loan for refurbishing Unit 1 of Romania’s Cernavodă nuclear power station and funding for border crossings connecting Ukraine with the EU and Moldova.
The EIB Group’s financing plan will support the expansion of electricity grids in Belgium and Spain, the development of wind farms in Germany, solar power projects in France, as well as the Romanian nuclear initiative. Cernavodă, operated by Nuclearelectrica, generates roughly 20% of Romania’s electricity. The approved loan will facilitate the replacement of critical components and system upgrades at Unit 1, ensuring the reactor’s safe and reliable operation. This broader energy initiative is part of the group’s efforts to promote electrification, enhance energy security, and develop infrastructure supporting Europe’s shift away from oil and natural gas.
€3.7 billion in EIB backing for energy projects
Nadia Calviño, president of the EIB Group, highlighted that the approved initiatives would bolster European security and independence while maintaining affordable energy for households and businesses. She also emphasized that the institution is on track for another record year, with historic investments in electricity infrastructure, interconnectors, and pivotal energy transition technologies. The latest approvals follow the group’s €100 billion of financing and advisory commitments in 2025, spanning more than 870 projects in areas such as climate action, technology, security, cohesion, agriculture, social infrastructure, and international cooperation.
The package also encompasses investments in transport, public services, and corporate development across multiple European nations. The EIB board approved funding for new trains in Austria, hospital upgrades in the Czech Republic, additional cultural and sports facilities in Sweden, and educational infrastructure in Lithuania. Separate initiatives aim to enhance business competitiveness in Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. While the announcement did not specify the individual transaction values, the approvals are part of a single financing cycle covering public-sector assets, industrial investments, and credit access.
New financing initiatives target grids in Belgium and Spain
The boards also agreed to expand financing capacity for European enterprises through securitisation and guarantees. The EIB doubled its pan-European securitisation program to €6 billion, while the EIF approved several securitisation and guarantee transactions linked to the European Union savings and investment agenda. Securitisation allows banks to unlock capital tied up in existing assets, enabling them to extend more credit. The EIB stated that these measures would direct funding toward green and innovative projects, bolster competitiveness, and increase access to capital for companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises and startups.
Approvals related to Ukraine include financing for modernizing border crossings on routes that are part of the trans-European transport network. These upgrades will improve processing terminals, customs facilities, and digital systems, strengthening links between Ukraine, the EU, and Moldova. The EIB Group also approved new support for Ukrainian firms, contributing to the country’s economic resilience and recovery efforts. Ukraine remained the group’s primary external focus in 2025, with a record-level commitment to projects that support vital services and economic stability.
Beyond the EU, the EIB Group’s financing package includes wind power investments in Egypt, solar power and grid projects in Tunisia, and sustainable agriculture initiatives in Moldova. These approvals align with the EU’s Global Gateway program, which funds infrastructure and partnerships across sectors such as energy, transportation, digital connectivity, health, and education. The EIB Group, owned by the 27 EU member states, functions as the bloc’s long-term financing arm, with the EIF specializing in guarantees, securitisation, and equity instruments to mobilize private capital.