BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.4. The European
Investment Bank (EIB) Group’s new financing in Greece reached a
record €3.5 billion in 2025, up 59% from €2.2 billion in 2024,
driven by increased support for climate action, water
infrastructure, student housing, and business growth, the bank
said, Trend
reports.
Of the total, €3.2 billion came from the EIB and €271 million
from the European Investment Fund (EIF), which targets small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The financing is expected to
mobilise overall investments exceeding €9.2 billion, or 3.7% of
Greece’s GDP.
Key projects include a €500 million EIB loan for sustainable
urban infrastructure, €250 million for water upgrades in the Athens
area, €95 million for student housing on Crete, and €90 million to
boost production of critical raw materials, including bauxite and
gallium – the first EIB-backed gallium facility in Europe.
EIB Vice-President Yannis Tsakiris said the record financing
reflected strong confidence in Greece and its role in Europe’s
industrial ecosystem. “With EIB support, Greece became the first
country in Europe to establish gallium production, reinforcing its
industrial ecosystem and strategic value chains,” he said.
Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis described the EIB as a
“partner helping the country move from crisis management to shaping
solutions for the future,” and pledged faster, more strategic
investment in 2026.
The EIB also lent €288 million to Greece’s Independent Power
Transmission Operator to connect the northeastern Aegean islands to
the mainland grid and provided €17.5 million in venture debt to EV
charging operator Joltie. EIB guarantees totalling €950 million
were extended through Greek banks to support SME and mid-cap
financing.
EIF activities in Greece included equity investments exceeding
€220 million through nine operations and €49 million in guarantees
projected to mobilise €340 million in financing for SMEs.
The EIB Group’s support in 2025 averaged €870 per inhabitant,
making Greece one of the top EU beneficiaries relative to GDP, with
around half of funding directed to climate and environmental
projects.
