EIB Group and CDP deepen partnership to boost investment and sustainable growth in Italy and abroad

Luxembourg – A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening strategic cooperation to support Italy’s long‑term development and the European Union’s policy objectives. The European Investment Bank Group (EIB Group) – comprising the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF) – and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), Italy’s national promotional institution, signed on 3 March in Luxembourg. At the EIB Forum – reflecting the shared commitment of the three institutions to strengthening their partnership at a crucial moment for the European investment agenda – the agreement was signed in the presence of EIB Group President Nadia Calviño, EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti, EIF Chief Executive Marjut Falkstedt, and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Chief Executive and General Manager Dario Scannapieco.
Building on the successful collaboration established under the 2022 MoU, the new agreement expands joint efforts to promote high-impact public and private investment in sectors essential to Italy’s growth and competitiveness. These include social and sustainable infrastructure, innovation, digitalisation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, support for SMEs and mid-caps, economic security and strategic autonomy, as well as cohesion between Italian regions, including those in need of targeted support.

According to Scannapieco, “Europe is a powerhouse with a crucial role on the global scene, and it is important that it acts as a system. Our long-standing partnership with the EIB allows us to scale up high-impact initiatives and channel more financial resources where they can generate lasting economic and social value.” Furthermore,  the”agreement also reinforces CDP’s mission to anticipate structural transitions and translate strategic vision into concrete investments.” 

According to Vigliotti, “The renewal of this agreement marks an important step forward in the partnership between the EIB and CDP in support of the Italian economy“. In particular, “By combining our expertise, financial resources and long‑term strategic vision, we can back key projects for climate action, digital transformation, social infrastructure and businesses. Together we strengthen our ability to address present and future challenges, promoting sustainable, resilient and inclusive growth,” she added. 

The strengthened partnership is aligned with CDP’s 2025-2027 Strategic Plan and the EIB Group’s 2024-2027 Strategic Roadmap. The new agreement defines a comprehensive cooperation framework designed to enhance the planning, origination, and implementation of projects both within Italy and internationally. The institutions will work together to optimise the use of regional, national, and EU resources, including through advisory platforms, EU mandates and financial instruments, InvestEU, and other mechanisms that reinforce Italy’s capacity to design and deliver high‑quality, future‑proof investments.

The Memorandum provides for coordinated action to develop new lending models, reinforce advisory services and accelerate investment pipelines in priority sectors, while ensuring strong alignment with national and EU strategies. In addition, cooperation will extend to EIB Global, the EIB’s development arm, with a focus on delivering high‑impact initiatives in partner countries and contributing to Italy’s international commitments in areas such as climate protection, sustainable infrastructure, access to essential services, and private‑sector development. Finally, to facilitate this expanded cooperation, the MoU establishes a coordination system to ensure the regular and strategic flow of information and provides for staff exchanges and specialised study visits to deepen institutional knowledge and operational synergies. 

CDP and the EIB Group have strengthened their structured, long-term cooperation following the 2022 agreement, with the aim of stimulating public and private investment across several strategic sectors, including infrastructure, digital transformation, social housing, renewable energy sources, sustainability and the circular economy. The collaboration has developed along three main lines: joint planning of activities and use of EU instruments, support for territorial investments through guarantees, and strengthening of advisory services to support the green transition. In particular, with regard to the first point, one of the pillars of the 2022 agreement concerned the coordinated planning of activities between CDP and the EIB, with the aim of contributing to achieving the objectives of the Italian Climate Fund and strengthening support for development finance. This cooperation was accompanied by joint work within the framework of the NRRP and, in particular, the InvestEU programme, which was one of the central instruments for implementing the partnership. A second key element of the 2022 agreement concerned the guarantee of loans to local public authorities. In this context, CDP made 1 billion euros available for public administration investments, thanks to a 500 million euro EIB guarantee. The resources are intended to support sustainable growth in the regions, with interventions promoted by public authorities in sectors with a high environmental and social impact, with a particular focus on the development of southern Italy, the areas affected by the 2016 earthquake in central Italy, and initiatives aimed at mitigating climate change, strengthening regional resilience, and social cohesion. Finally, the third strategic area of the agreement concerns strengthening cooperation in advisory services through the signing of a second agreement dedicated to consultancy. In this context, the EIB provides CDP with technical and financial advisory services as part of the Green Gateway programme, developed in collaboration with the European Commission to facilitate green investments by European financial institutions. The EIB and CDP have signed joint operations worth 1.2 billion euros in 2025 alone.