The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) approved 11 new loans worth €800 million to fund social projects across member countries, the bank disclosed.
The financing targets education, healthcare, housing, microfinance, and public services with a strong focus on helping vulnerable groups. Projects span from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Spain, addressing urgent needs like student loans, social housing, and infrastructure upgrades. The largest single loan of €200 million goes to France’s Caisse des Dépôts for social housing construction and renovation. Several loans work alongside the European Investment Bank and other partners to maximize impact.
The CEB specializes in social development projects that commercial banks often avoid because they serve lower-income populations or provide limited returns. Many European countries face housing shortages, aging school buildings, and gaps in healthcare access that require public sector intervention. The bank’s loans help bridge these gaps by offering favorable terms for projects that improve living conditions for disadvantaged communities. Several deals specifically target women entrepreneurs, students in rural areas, and families in economic hardship.
Major projects include €150 million for new secondary schools in France’s Haute-Savoie region, €55 million for electric buses in Vilnius, and €50 million for a children’s hospital in Belgrade. In Bosnia, €10 million goes to Mikrofin for microcredit programs where women entrepreneurs will receive at least 60% of funding. Netherlands gets €150 million for social housing to address urgent shortages and long waiting lists. Spain receives funding for affordable rental homes and wastewater treatment plants in small municipalities.
The loans reflect growing demand for social infrastructure investment across Europe as countries deal with demographic changes, climate goals, and inequality challenges. Many projects combine CEB funding with EU grants and other development bank financing to create larger packages. The bank’s approach focuses on measurable social outcomes rather than just financial returns, making it an important tool for addressing market failures in social services.
