The central focus of the approach revealed in Ghent by the EIB Group president is to address the investment gap in innovation, new technologies, and various types of infrastructure within and beyond the European Union. This initiative aims to benefit Europe's regions, businesses, and citizens.

The newly proposed initiatives aim to prioritize investments in several key areas, including climate change mitigation and adaptation, the energy transition, digitalization, and emerging technologies. Additionally, plans include increased investment in security and defense, support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), bolstering territorial cohesion, and enhancing social infrastructure such as education, health, and affordable housing. Furthermore, there are plans to invest in agriculture and biotechnology.

Outside the EU, the strategy emphasizes support for Ukraine and facilitating a successful enlargement process. It also aligns with the EU Global Gateway strategy.

The eight core priorities

President Calviño outlined a series of eight central priorities to the Economy and Finance ministers in Ghent, aimed at fostering a more resilient, equitable, and competitive economy:

• Strengthening the climate bank.
• Expediting technological innovation and digitalization.
• Enhancing investment in security and defense.
• Contributing to contemporary cohesion policy.
• Formulating innovative financing for agriculture and the bioeconomy.
• Increasing investment in social infrastructure.
• Spearheading the Capital Markets Union.
• Concentrating efforts beyond the European Union on the Global Gateway strategy, Ukraine, and an effective enlargement process.

Among the topics addressed was the exploration of new financing mechanisms for strategic technologies, such as chips, as well as for pivotal sectors of the economy, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). After the Ecofin deliberations, the EIB Group will collaborate with its Board of Directors to examine and refine proposals for:

• An SME energy efficiency initiative aimed at expanding the adoption of environmentally sustainable and economically viable technologies.
• A novel water initiative to assist cities, regions, and businesses, with a special focus on farmers and the agricultural sector, in mitigating the effects of drought and flooding, as well as in digitizing and enhancing the efficiency of water management.
• A new FASTER initiative intended to expedite digitalization and technological innovation within the European Union.
• Pioneering EU financial instruments that can serve as foundational elements for the Capital Markets Union.

“I very much welcome today’s constructive discussions with the EU finance ministers, chaired by the Belgian presidency. The strong endorsement of our strategy from ministers will help us build on the strengths of the EIB Group and deploy this powerful instrument to its full potential to support strategic EU priorities and successfully tackle today’s global challenges,” said President Nadia Calviño.