European Investment Bank marks 50 years in Portugal

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is celebrating 50 years of operations in Portugal. Since its first loan in 1976 for the Setúbal Thermal Power Plant, the EIB Group and the European Fund for Investment have financed over 70 billion euros across more than 1,000 projects.

The institution's impact spans various sectors, including infrastructure, renewable energy, innovation, transport, the environment, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Operating primarily as a wholesale bank with a AAA rating, the EIB channels funds through commercial partners or acts as a direct financier for large-scale projects.

In 2025, the EIB saw a 43% increase in financing, reaching approximately 3 billion euros—equivalent to about 4% of Portugal's GDP. This level of activity is surpassed only by the 5 billion euros mobilized during the 2020 pandemic. Moving forward, the bank intends to focus on strategic emerging areas such as computing, cybersecurity, and defense.