Robert de Groot

The European Investment Bank will support De Watergroep in rehabilitating and expanding its network of water supply infrastructure. Watergroep signed a €200 million loan today, as a first part of a €350 million lending availability for the coming five years. The EIB loan will fund nearly half of de Watergroep’s 2023-2028 investment programme, which focuses on renewing old pipes to minimise leakages, and extending the network by some 800 kilometres to serve new clients. The rehabilitation of the drinking water network will also allow Watergroep to better adapt to climate change risks such as more frequent and longer dry periods.

The contract was signed by EIB Vice-President Robert de Groot, ETB CEO Frédéric Dunon, and ELIA Group Interim CEO Catherine Vandenborre on 25 October 2024 at a ceremony held at the island’s caisson yard in Vlissingen (NL), in the presence of the Belgian Minister of Energy, Tinne Van der Straeten; the Head of European Commission Representation in Belgium, Thomas de Béthune; and various diplomatic dignitaries from countries around the North Sea, including the Belgian and German ambassadors to the Netherlands and the German ambassador to Belgium. 

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and LUMICKS have signed a €20 million venture debt agreement to accelerate the launch of its next generation, high throughput cell avidity platform. The financing is supported by the European Commission under the InvestEU initiative.