BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.5. The European
Investment Bank (EIB) Group continued to support market
integration, connectivity, and the green transition in the Western
Balkans in 2025, committing €822 million to sustainable
infrastructure and climate action projects in line with EU
accession efforts, Trend reports with reference to the Bank.
Of this, €664 million was provided in loans and guarantees, €6.5
million in investment grants under the EIB’s Economic Resilience
Initiative, and €151.1 million in EU grants through the Western
Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF). The financing is expected to
mobilise nearly €1.5 billion in total investment.
Sustainable transport accounted for the largest share of funding
at 58%, followed by healthcare (20%), renewable energy (13%) and
education (4%). More than half of the Bank’s support directly
contributed to climate action and environmental sustainability,
supporting its global ambition of at least €1 trillion in green
investments by 2030.
The EIB reinforced its role as a leading financier of transport
infrastructure, backing strategic rail upgrades in Albania, Serbia,
and Montenegro, alongside €150 million for the modernization of 540
km of regional roads in Serbia. Inland waterway upgrades in Serbia
are improving Danube navigability and regional trade flows.
Energy security remained a priority, with a €103 million loan
for the 132 MW Poklečani wind farm in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which
is expected to supply 72,700 households and cut CO₂ emissions by
nearly 447,000 tons per year. Other projects include solar and
hydropower investments in the region, as well as electricity grid
expansions in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Supporting green innovation among SMEs, the EIB provided
financing through green credit lines, including €187 million under
the Innovation and Green Transformation Facility for investments in
digitalization, sustainable agriculture, and climate-resilient
technologies. EIF-backed initiatives supported SMEs employing
women, youth, and people with disabilities, mobilizing €105 million
in financing across 375 projects.
Social infrastructure upgrades were also a focus. In Montenegro,
€20 million supported the digital transformation of schools,
including the new Vladimir Nazor school in Podgorica. In Serbia,
€157 million was committed to major clinical centers, alongside
€35.5 million EU grant funding for a new sewerage network in
Belgrade, while Banja Luka Clinical Centre continued to receive
support in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
EIB Advisory services, including JASPERS, supported 48 active
projects and launched 20 new assignments, helping central banks
develop climate risk frameworks, green taxonomies, and guidance for
SMEs on sustainable investments. Regional tools like North
Macedonia’s Decarbonization Guide and the Green Eligibility Checker
were introduced to simplify assessments for companies and
banks.
The EIB Group, owned by EU Member States, is the EU’s long-term
financing institution, supporting competitiveness, innovation,
sustainable development, cohesion, and climate neutrality. The EIF,
part of the EIB Group, focuses on enabling access to finance for
micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, supporting innovation,
growth, and employment across Europe.
