Providing affordable housing to citizens is now one of the main priorities of the European Investment Bank (EIB), emphasized Ioannis Tsakirisits vice president European Investment Bankin his presentation at the 7th ITC Infrastructure and Transport Conference 2024.

In this context, the EIB finances housing programs in small towns, but also development projects in cities with severe housing shortages, with the aim of reconstructing old buildings and constructing new and affordable housing.

At the same time, projects to protect the environment and combat the climate crisis remain at the top of the agenda of the EIB, which also defines itself as a “climate bank”.

In this context, in Greece the EIB has financed the electrical interconnection of the Cyclades with mainland Greece, has approved 400 million euros for the construction of photovoltaics by Metlen and 390 million euros for the construction of photovoltaics in Thessaly and Central Greece from DEPA.

More generally, “Greece is the most benefited country from EIB financing” as I. Tsakiris pointed out, having received funds of 2.5 billion euros in 2023 alone, an amount that amounts to more than 15% of the national GDP.

As he noted, these are projects that cover a wide range “in infrastructure, RES, small and medium enterprises, innovation and digital technologies, projects critical for development, but also projects in critical sectors such as health, education and infrastructure. We have cooperation with the public and private sectors, but also with local banks in order to offer favorable lending conditions to local businesses.”

As I. Tsakiris explained, the EIB is the investment arm of the EU, with financing in projects that are based at the local level and have a development impact. These projects aim to strengthen the resilience of European economies and ensure Europe’s prosperity, competitiveness and strategic autonomy.