BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. The Boards of
Directors of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group have approved
their 2026–2028 Operational Plan, maintaining a record-level
financing of €100 billion next year, Trend reports via the
EIB.
The plan includes €4.5 billion for security and defence
financing, accounting for 5% of total EU-related funding.
Investment decisions for 2026 will be guided by the eight
priorities outlined in the EIB Group’s Strategic Roadmap, fully
aligned with EU policy goals and focusing on green finance,
technological innovation, security and defence, and support for
Ukraine.
The planned financing will include €15.3 billion from the
European Investment Fund (EIF), which leverages equity investments,
guarantees, and securitisation instruments to strengthen European
businesses.
The EIB Group also announced the expansion of its flagship
European Tech Champions Initiative (ETCI). The upgraded ETCI 2.0
will support both mega funds and mid-sized funds, providing
technology companies across Europe with the capital needed to scale
up and enhance competitiveness.
In new project financing, the EIB Boards approved €7.5 billion
for EU social infrastructure, climate action, and global
partnerships. This includes hospital upgrades and healthcare
innovation in France, Germany, and Sweden, new schools in Finland,
France, and Slovakia, sustainable agriculture projects in Lithuania
and Poland, green and digital infrastructure in Spain, and water
projects in Italy, Spain, and Sweden.
Beyond the EU, the financing will support business development
in Ukraine and Europe’s Global Gateway strategy, including vaccine
production in Colombia and South Africa, electricity-grid
improvements in Ethiopia, water infrastructure upgrades in Gambia
and the Solomon Islands, and climate change adaptation projects in
Pakistan.
The EIB Group says the plan will strengthen Europe’s innovation,
sustainability, and global impact while ensuring continued
alignment with EU priorities.
