EIB raises 2025 defense financing to a record of up to 3.5 billion

Brussels – As expected, the EIB is increasingly for defense, even more than expected. The European Investment Bank, which in 2024 granted EUR 1 billion of funding to the sector, aiming to double the support in 2025, will more than triple its efforts at the end of this year. The meeting of the Bank’s governors approved the increase of the 2025 funding ceiling to a record level of EUR 100 billion to intensify investments in security and defense, energy networks, and Europe’s technological leadership. 

The EIB said the new funding ceiling stipulates allocating “3.5 percent of total financing for the European security and defense sector”. The 3.5 percent of the total is equal to three and a half billion euros earmarked for defense, which does not just mean dual-use civil-military technology: the European Investment Bank Board has approved a project to build a military base in Lithuania, specifically, the development of the Rūdninkai facility, which the German army will use. This project is “key” to enhancing NATO operations and security in the region.

“The unanimous support of our shareholders, the 27 Member States, for our proposals to provide record financing for defense, energy security, and tech leadership shows the key role of the EIB Group to support Europe’s strategic priorities,” said a satisfied Nadia Calviño, President of the EIB. The change in direction is increasingly evident but yet inevitable. “In a world where everything everywhere is changing all at once, the EU is a beacon of clarity, confidence, and stability,” she added.