Financial activities of the European Investment Bank – annual report 2024
Closing the investment gap and fostering competitiveness
Parliament welcomed the priorities set out in the EIB Group's strategic roadmap for 2024-2027, namely the EIB's role as a climate bank, digitalisation and the deployment of new technologies, the security and defence industry, a modern cohesion policy, agriculture and the bioeconomy, European social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union and the Capital Markets Union.
The resolution highlighted the call for the EIB to play an even greater role in reducing Europe's investment gap, estimated by Mario Draghi at EUR 800 billion, including EUR 450 billion for the energy transition alone. The Commission and the EIB are called upon to fully exploit the EIB's potential to provide financial support for the Union's common priorities and to fulfil its essential role in stimulating the investments needed for fair and inclusive sustainable growth. Members called for the EIB Group's contribution to be reinforced in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and called on Member States to provide sufficient financing for this purpose by granting mandates to the EIB and by carrying out a possible capital increase.
Recalling that the EIB's investment volume relative to GDP among European countries varies between 0.1% and 1.4% for 2024, Members called on the EIB Group to ensure a more balanced geographical distribution of investments in order to maximise their impact in all regions of the Union. They stressed the importance of reducing the administrative burden and simplifying procedures for EIB-financed projects, particularly for SMEs.
The Commission and the EIB Group are invited to redouble their efforts to achieve the Savings and Investment Union by mobilising private capital for productive investments, supporting innovation throughout the business life cycle, with venture capital and equity financing presenting a higher risk for start-ups and scale-ups.
Consolidating the EIB's role as the European Union's climate bank
Parliament welcomed the EIB's climate and environmental investments, which totalled EUR 50.7 billion in 2024. Members expect the EIB to make its loans, financial instruments and assistance available to citizens and businesses facing socio-economic challenges caused by their efforts to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The EIB is called upon to support, as a priority, projects providing affordable access to renewable energy, housing and public services, as well as community-led initiatives and small-scale projects with a particular focus on tackling energy poverty.
The resolution highlighted the importance of tackling high energy costs in the EU to improve the competitiveness of European businesses. More investment is needed in climate change adaptation and resilience. The EIB must also maintain the EU's leading role in green and digital bonds.
Financing peace, security and defence
Parliament welcomed the EIB's proactive approach to security and defence. Investment in this sector doubled in 2024 to EUR 1 billion, with the EIB's 2025 plan to double it again to a record EUR 2 billion. Members called for strategic investments in projects delivering European added value and in dual-use technologies that contribute to both civilian and defence objectives.
Addressing challenges in social infrastructure, cohesion policy and housing
Parliament called on the EIB to continue its support for infrastructure development and investment in railways, healthcare, and social infrastructure. It welcomed the EIB's ‘Action Plan for Affordable and Sustainable Housing’ which provides for EUR 10 billion in investments over the next two years. It called on the EIB to increase its financial support by rolling out standardised financing products in the fields of energy and building renovation. The EIB is urged to redouble its efforts to encourage youth employment.
Promoting digital transformation and new technologies
The EIB is called upon to (i) strengthen financing for the EU's open strategic autonomy in the digital field, (ii) support cybersecurity capacity building in the EU, (iii) further invest in the critical raw materials sector and (iv) support the technological transformation of European businesses, as well as the development of digital skills of employees and entrepreneurs.
EIB neighbourhood and Global Gateway
Parliament called for an increase in EU budget guarantees to allow the EIB to continue to deliver and strengthen public and private sector operations in Ukraine. Members emphasised that, to decrease dependence on non-EU countries, the deployment of resilient European-controlled infrastructure, among others in the domains of satellite communications, energy and logistics, is essential.
Furthermore, Members stressed that, as part of the EU’s external action toolbox, the Global Gateway is crucial for Europe’s global position. Effective mechanisms are needed to ensure the participation and accountability of communities affected by EIB-financed projects so that Global Gateway projects meet local needs. The EIB's global activities must respond quickly to changing realities and urgent needs in the context of the development aid financing gap resulting from the US aid freeze.
Governance: accountability and transparency
Stressing that the EIB’s growing role should be accompanied by greater democratic accountability and transparency, Members asked the EIB to provide Parliament with a clear, simplified overview of EU budget contributions to its balance sheet, off-balance sheet, and profit and loss account. They highlighted the importance of the EIB ensuring full transparency and traceability of projects funded. The EIB is invited to boost the participation of European companies in procurement processes launched for projects financed by the EIB.