The EIB in the Western Balkans

Overview

We started operations in this region in 1977 supporting the reconstruction and upgrade of public infrastructure. In the last decade we have expanded our work to other sectors and contributed to strengthen regional cooperation, as well as the economic convergence with the EU.
Under the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans we work closely with the European Commission, blending our loans with EU grants to achieve an optimal financing package.

Our current role is to support:

Our activity in 2023

In line with the Global Gateway objectives, EIB invested €1.2 billion in the Western Balkans in 2023, aiming to mobilise over €6 billion of new investments in the region.

This will accelerate connectivity, energy transition and growth of small and medium businesses, in line with EU priorities.

Country overview

Find an overview of our impact by country.

Serbia
Kosovo*

*This designation is without prejudice to the positions expressed by the EU Member States on Kosovo’s status and is in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 1244/1999 and the International Court of Justice Opinion of 22 July 2010 on Kosovo’s declaration of independence.

Our stories in the region

We support projects that improve lives all over the world. Watch our videos and read our stories on how our work improves the quality of life in the region.

22 October 2024 Gordana Kovacevic

A facility for fairness

Innovative social credit for SMEs backs jobs for women, youth and other vulnerable social groups in the Western Balkans

Serbia Enlargement Countries SMEs
15 October 2024 Andreia Nuno Chris Knight Donna Gelsthorpe-Pearce

‘Change the planet, change everything’

Solar panels will soon be everywhere — on roofs, cars, wrists, floating on lakes and oceans. Here’s how it’s going to happen

Infrastructure Solar power Sustainability Slovakia Nigeria Madagascar Italy Benin Spain Romania North Macedonia Morocco Hungary The Netherlands Czechia Africa, Caribbean, Pacific countries + OCT Mediterranean countries Enlargement Countries European Union Research, innovation and technology Climate action and environment Energy Corporate
26 September 2024 Gordana Kovacevic

Montenegro’s digital transition starts at school

Improving education in Montenegro with Team Europe support

Infrastructure Western Balkans Montenegro Enlargement Countries Education and training
18 September 2024 Gordana Kovacevic

Widening the waterway

Backed by EU funding, Serbia dredges up World War II wrecks to make Danube navigation safer and faster

Infrastructure Western Balkans Romania Serbia Enlargement Countries European Union Transport Climate action and environment
29 August 2024 Gordana Kovacevic

15 years of the WBIF

The European Union’s main investment vehicle for the Western Balkans marks a decade and a half of success—and plots an increase in infrastructure investment for the region

Infrastructure Western Balkans Montenegro Albania Serbia Enlargement Countries
10 June 2024 Gordana Kovacevic

Albania on track

Albania rebuilds its railways with financial and technical support from the EU—and cuts emissions

Railways Western Balkans Sustainable transport Montenegro Albania Enlargement Countries Transport Climate action and environment
28 May 2024 Gordana Kovacevic

Safer roads in Bosnia and Herzegovina

High-tech road safety system on the Corridor Vc in Bosnia and Herzegovina saves lives, as it boosts the economy

Infrastructure Road safety Roads Western Balkans Bosnia and Herzegovina Enlargement Countries Transport Development
14 May 2024

EIB Global Donor Partnerships

Launch the video and embark on a journey to our projects around the world, guided by our Donor-funded trust funds. By joining forces, we achieve impact.

EIB Global cares for people and the planet thanks to its Donor partnerships.

EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund European Commission Solidarity with Ukraine EU for Ukraine Partnerships Partners Eastern Partnership Technical Assistance Trust Fund (EPTATF) Mandates and partnerships Ecuador Ukraine Senegal Mozambique Armenia Serbia Moldova Africa, Caribbean, Pacific countries + OCT Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus Mediterranean countries America Carribean Sub Saharan Africa Enlargement Countries South Africa Asia and Latin America Urban development Research, innovation and technology Transport Development Migration Climate action and environment Energy Institutional SMEs Diversity and gender Water, wastewater management Health and life sciences
7 May 2024 Gordana Kovacevic

Preserving biodiversity in Serbia

Thanks to the EU for the Green Agenda initiative in Serbia, 13 organizations are able to implement their environmental protection projects

Western Balkans Serbia Enlargement Countries Research, innovation and technology Climate action and environment
6 May 2024 Gordana Kovacevic

An AI model for a small-ish language

A Belgrade university offshoot develops Serbian-language artificial intelligence processing tools to make businesses faster and more efficient

Serbia Enlargement Countries Research, innovation and technology Digital and telecoms

What we offer

We offer a broad range of financial products and advisory services for public and private project to enhance growth and development in the region.

Initiatives Trust funds Equity funds Advisory services

We work on several investment initiatives to maximise our local impact:

Urban Projects Finance Initiative

UPFI supports project promoters to prepare and finance urban development projects.

Find out more

European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) Guarantee

EFSD Guarantee is tailored to crowd in private investors, where viable business proposals meet social needs, and where limited public funds can attract private money.

Find out more

Economic Resilience Initiative (ERI)

ERI creates jobs and economic growth in the region by investing in key infrastructure and in private sector development. It also may help migration flows.

Find out more

We work with donors to create trust funds and thus provide more in-depth support for local projects through technical assistance, grants and loan guarantees.

City Climate Finance Gap Fund

This fund offers technical and advisory services for climate action projects and supports cities in developing and emerging economies.

Find out more

Economic Resilience Initiative Fund

This fund supports resilient and inclusive growth in the region.

Find out more

Financial Inclusion Fund

It aims to improve access to finance for small businesses and entrepreneurs in developing countries.

Find out more

Green Hydrogen Fund

This trust fund provides strategic advice and capacity building to developing countries to help them prepare for decarbonising the industry sector through green hydrogen.

Find out more

Eastern Partnership Technical Assistance Trust Fund

The trust fund finances technical assistance and capacity-building programmes in the Eastern Partnership countries.

Find out more

Water Sector Fund

This fund aims to support the development of water projects in low- and lower-middle income countries.

Find out more

Luxembourg-EIB Climate Finance Platform

The platform supports investment in international climate finance, focusing on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Find out more

We provide equity financing, primarily investing or co-investing along with funds focused on infrastructure, the environment, small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-size corporations.

Find out more about the investment funds we work with

Our experts provide advisory services and technical assistance to improve access to finance and facilitate investment for:

public authorities
financial intermediaries
microfinance institutions
final beneficiaries

We also offer expertise and technical assistance to support the design and structuring of low-carbon infrastructure projects in cities.

Find out more about our advisory services

Our partnerships

We work closely with the European Union and development partners to mobilise more development and climate finance, and to enhance our impact.

Working with the EU Working with development partners

We are the European Union’s international development bank. We promote the EU's principles, values and objectives and contribute to stable growth in countries beyond Europe’s borders.

Global Gateway

As part of Team Europe we are supporting Global Gateway, a new European strategy to invest in sustainable, high-quality projects around the world that are good for people and the planet.

Under Global Gateway, EIB Global is tackling some of today’s most pressing challenges, from fighting climate change to accelerating the digital transition. EIB Global is well on track to facilitate at least a third of the €300 billion of investment that Global Gateway aims to mobilise by 2027.

This will help support projects that are focused on digitalisation, tackling climate change, clean energy, healthcare, education, as well as transport.

Team Europe

As part of Team Europe, the EIB has increased its development finance, especially in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Team Europe is a global recovery package that combines resources from the European Union, Member States, and the EIB, and supports the most vulnerable countries and people most at risk around the world.

In line with Team Europe initiatives, our projects in the region are aimed at achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

To tackle challenges in the region, we work with various United Nations agencies and international financial institutions, such as the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the French Agency for Development (AFD), the German Development Bank (KfW) and the World Bank.

Our initiatives with these partners in the region include, among others, the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), and the Mutual Reliance Initiative (MRI).