Leaders of Europe’s largest public development banks and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group have pledged to step up joint efforts to boost investment, competitiveness, and security across the European Union, according to a statement released by the EIB. Meeting in Munich this week, the institutions – including KfW (Germany), Caisse des Dépôts (France), CDP (Italy), ICO (Spain), BGK (Poland), and others – reaffirmed their commitment to mobilize more financing for Europe’s long-term priorities.
Together, these institutions accounted for over €300 billion in financing in 2025. Against a backdrop of slowing global growth and rising geopolitical tensions, they agreed to broaden cooperation in areas that strengthen Europe’s economic base — from industrial innovation and digital sovereignty to housing, climate action, and defence investment. The leaders emphasized the role of public investors in triggering private capital flows to fill persistent investment gaps across the EU.
A key focus of the meeting was boosting competitiveness. Building on the Draghi report and Letta’s findings on the Single Market, the banks agreed to scale up financing for innovation, skills development, and cross-border infrastructure — helping create a stronger and more integrated European economy. Plans are also underway to establish a “Security and Defence Infrastructure Fund” to channel private and public funding into critical infrastructure projects that enhance Europe’s industrial and defence capacity.
The discussion also looked ahead to ensuring Europe’s digital independence. The group aims to create a “Digital Resilience Index” that tracks technological dependencies and supports investments reducing Europe’s reliance on external suppliers. Collaboration will also expand under the Savings and Investment Union, which aligns national programs such as KfW’s Germany Fund and BGK’s Future Tech Poland with EU-wide initiatives like the European Tech Champions scheme.
Finally, housing came through as a shared social priority. Building on the European Commission’s Affordable Housing Plan, the EIB and national partners will scale up affordable housing finance to help address shortages across member states. Collectively, the institutions said, these coordinated actions signal a sustained commitment to a more competitive, secure, and resilient Europe.
