Luxembourg (enr) – The European Investment Bank (EIB) is set to meet and possibly surpass its goal of dedicating five percent of its financing in the European Union to security and defence projects this year, stated EIB President Nadia Calviño.
This allocation is estimated to be around 4.5 billion euros, according to the EU’s lending institution.
“It is evident that more investment in security and defence is essential in Europe,” Calviño remarked to members of the European Newsroom (enr) network in Luxembourg in June. “In the forthcoming years, we are prepared to increase our support for Europe’s security and defence capabilities,” the former Spanish economy minister added.
Last year, the EIB significantly boosted its investment in this sector in reaction to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the broader geopolitical landscape. Financing for security and defence initiatives soared to over 4 billion euros in 2025, quadrupling the previous year’s investment and accounting for nearly five percent of all EIB Group financing within the EU.
“The change in policy regarding security and defence has been a pivotal moment for the EIB Group,” Calviño noted.
In just a few years, the bank has broadened its eligibility criteria to encompass purely military projects. It now supports companies and investment funds involved in the security and defence sector.
Since 2024, the EIB has gradually relaxed its financing regulations. It is now able to fund military equipment, infrastructure, services, and technology, although weapons and ammunition remain excluded.
Based in Luxembourg, the EIB serves as the EU’s long-term lending entity. Its owners are the member states of the bloc, and its investments are primarily aimed at advancing the European Union’s political objectives.
The enr had a discussion with Calviño during the EIB’s annual Board of Governors meeting and a gathering of EU ministers overseeing economic affairs, finance, and the EU budget.
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