EIB Group President Nadia Calviño opens the EIB Global Days during the 2025 edition of the EIB Group Forum.
Dear Commissioners, Vice Presidents, Director-General, my dear Doctor Tedros from the World Health Organization, dear colleagues,
It’s really good to be here among so many partners and friends – from the World Bank, from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Islamic Development Bank, international financial institutions, the Commission, national development agencies and banks, such as Agence Française de Développement, from the World Health Organization and Gavi, the vaccine alliance, from the private sector, foundations, academia, as well as allies from across the globe from Ukraine to Africa.
I am so glad that we have gathered together. And in view of the current shifts of global alliances and geopolitical tensions, it feels even better to be here together.
In fact, the history of this privileged part of the world – the European Union and of this institution, the European Investment Bank Group – proves that prosperity is built upon strategic partnerships.
We were founded when the former enemies of this continent decided to put aside their differences, to join forces, pool resources, and address common challenges in a spirit of unity, determination and solidarity.
Foes became partners, walls turned to bridges – actually many of those bridges were funded by the European Investment Bank – and we invested together to develop our infrastructure, to integrate our markets, offer universal access to healthcare and education in every corner of this union. We saw how we prosper when our neighbours prosper.
We saw that win-win outcomes are better. That with a cooperative approach, two plus two is more than four. Europe’s commitment to partnerships is therefore not a naïve romanticism, but an investment in the dividends of peace. The same dividends that are also paying off in our global relations.
Because global growth, economic development, and deeper commercial ties opened markets for our goods and services. Europe became a trade powerhouse by striking more free-trade agreements than any other major economy. And these deals are giving access to European companies but also to companies from the rest of the world to the incredible internal market that is the EU, and that is why we continue to expand those trade agreements.
This world order based on cooperation and rules benefited everyone, including Europe, but I would say even more so the United States.
The European Investment Bank Group invests around 10% of its annual operations in building strategic partnerships outside the EU. Last year, this translated into a record of 128 projects, with almost €8 billion in new financing, very often complemented, depending on the guarantees from the European budget, which are absolutely indispensable for the EIB to take risk and to preserve its very strong AAA rating. We also have partnered with European and multilateral development banks, and thanks to these synergies, to the Team Europe approach, we maximise our impact and complementarity, crowding in private investment, and bringing opportunities for sustainable growth and win-win solutions across the globe, like the ones that have been shown in this wonderful video.
This commitment, I think, to win-win solutions, is going to be more important than ever in the years ahead, as the challenges are increasingly global in nature.
Just to give one example: We all remember very well, we now know with absolute certainty that pandemics and diseases cross Oceans.
That’s why the European Investment Bank Group will continue to be a steadfast supporter of multilateral institutions and global partners like the World Health Organization or Gavi. Because we need their expertise, their capabilities, and their dedication even more than ever before.
And together, we are supporting the eradication of diseases such as polio, by investing in global vaccine campaigns. And today we are also signing here actually in Luxembourg an agreement with the World Health Organization that will boost Lebanon's epidemic preparedness and improve access to essential pharmaceuticals for both Lebanese citizens and refugees.
In the same vein, climate change and its impacts do not stop for passport control at physical borders. So, the only way to meet our global goals of securing a liveable planet for our own children, here in Europe, is actually to support green investment in every corner of the globe. From the energy efficiency investments that we are supporting in Chile or Egypt, to the clean transport investments that we make in India. Only last week we joined the Africa Finance Corporation in supporting an infrastructure climate resilient fund, a landmark initiative to accelerate climate adaptation throughout the continent.
It's clear that the European Investment Bank Group and the European Union, we are united with global development institutions in the firm belief that the security and well-being of vulnerable populations from the Middle East to the Caribbean or women in Africa, supporting these goals also benefits Europe. It benefits all of us. And that's why we are joining forces to finance this shared prosperity. It's a no-brainer, although it sounds quite revolutionary these days. When we are all in the same boat, what is the right thing to do for other passengers is also the right thing to do for our own safety.
And this is even more the case with Ukraine. I wanted to make a final reference to Ukraine. We signed earlier today very important agreements with representatives from the Ukrainian government and the deputy prime minister is also with us today and will be addressing us. It's very clear that Ukraine's security is Europe's security, and their cause is our cause. Since the start of the invasion, the EIB has supported Ukraine’s economy and infrastructures. We have disbursed more than €2.2 billion, again working together with the European Commission, and with other global partners like the EBRD, most notably. We were discussing that earlier today, how to be more impactful and work better together.
Recently, I was in Kyiv, I met President Zelenskyy, the prime minister and other ministers. And we agreed to mobilize €1 billion in new fresh financing for public and private sectors.
Our support will not stop here. But right now, it is making a difference on the ground, because these are not just numbers.
We are talking about clean water for the people in Bucha, new trolley buses and trams to Ukrainian cities, restoring schools and kindergartens and hospitals for Ukrainian children, building shelters and emergency equipment to protect the energy security of the country.
The European Union stands with Ukraine and we look forward to a new phase, a phase of stable, fair peace, where we can focus on the reconstruction, the repair and a bright future of the country within the European Union.
Ukraine is our top priority right now.
The Western Balkans, the southern neighbourhood, Africa, the rest of the world, actually our international partnerships are top, right and centre of our agenda going forward. And these investments will remain a priority going forward because global impact is a core component of our strategic roadmap.
Today's discussions are going to be extremely helpful for us to redesign some of our instruments, see how to focus them, so that we deliver maximum impact on the ground. And in this shifting landscape, it's more important than ever that we make the most of available financial resources, but even more important, that the European Union remains a beacon for all peoples that want to build a fairer and more peaceful world, and many of you are well represented today in this room.
Our projects are concrete examples showing nations across the globe what Europe stands for. If anything, the retrenchment or isolationism of other partners actually opens up a space for Europe to show that there is a better, a different path ahead. A path to shared prosperity. A better future for all.
Let me say it loud and clear, this is Europe and these are our values. And I'm proud to represent them here today.
Thank you.