LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / July 16, 2026: The European Investment Bank Group has sanctioned €17.4 billion in new funding, allocating resources to power grids, nuclear energy, transportation infrastructure, public services, and business credit as the European Union boosts investments in energy independence and competitiveness. Among the approvals, €3.7 billion is dedicated to energy projects, including an €800 million loan to extend the lifespan of Unit 1 at Romania’s Cernavodă nuclear facility. The decisions were approved by the boards of the EIB and the European Investment Fund during meetings held in Luxembourg.
Energy has emerged as the most significant sector within the EIB Group’s funding package. The allocated funds will support electricity transmission networks in Belgium and Spain, wind farms in Germany, solar power projects in France, and the refurbishment of Romania’s nuclear capabilities. Cernavodă supplies roughly 20% of Romania’s electricity, making the upgrade of Unit 1 a critical element in national power supply strategies. The loan will facilitate the replacement of vital equipment and the modernization of operational systems. Nuclearelectrica, the plant’s operator, considers this refurbishment essential to sustain output from the current reactor fleet.
Romanian nuclear upgrade secures €800 million
These approvals reinforce the EIB’s expanding role in financing infrastructure vital for Europe’s transition to electrification. Nadia Calviño, the group’s president, highlighted that these projects bolster European security and sovereignty, while ensuring affordable energy for households and businesses. She also noted that the bank anticipates another robust year of operations, citing record investments in grids, interconnectors, and energy transition technologies. In 2025, the group committed €100 billion in financing and advisory services across more than 870 projects aligned with eight policy priorities.
Beyond energy, the EIB Group’s funding encompasses projects impacting labor mobility, public services, and regional development. Approvals include new rail vehicles in Austria, hospital upgrades in the Czech Republic, cultural and sports facilities in Sweden, and educational infrastructure in Lithuania. Investment support will also be extended to businesses in Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. This diverse portfolio reflects the EIB’s dual mandate: providing large-scale infrastructure loans while deploying financial instruments designed to attract private capital into corporate and innovative ventures.
New financing supports grids in Belgium and Spain
A separate decision has doubled the EIB’s pan-European securitization program to €6 billion. The European Union also authorized securitization and guarantee operations to advance its savings and investment agenda. By transferring or sharing risks associated with existing loan portfolios, securitization can free up bank capital for new lending activities. The group indicated that this expanded program will enhance financing capacity for green and innovative businesses, with the EIF’s guarantees and equity operations continuing to target smaller companies, startups, and venture-backed enterprises.
Part of the package also includes funding for Ukraine’s transport and commercial infrastructure modernization. The EIB approved upgrades to border crossings along routes in the trans-European transport network, including customs facilities, processing terminals, and digital systems. These projects aim to improve connectivity between Ukraine, EU member states, and Moldova. Additional financing for Ukrainian enterprises was also authorized. Ukraine remains the EIB’s primary external priority, with current activities building on record commitments made in 2025 to support public services, infrastructure, and the overall economy.
Internationally, the package features wind power projects in Egypt, solar energy and grid investments in Tunisia, and sustainable agriculture initiatives in Moldova. These efforts align with the EU’s Global Gateway, which promotes sustainable transport, energy, digital, and social infrastructure development in partner countries. The latest EIB Group financing strategy combines European investments with cross-border connectivity and external partnerships. Owned by the 27 EU member states, the group employs loans, guarantees, equity, and securitization to support strategic policy goals and mobilize additional private sector investments.