The European Commission published a video message by President von der Leyen to the 4th EIB Group Forum, setting out priorities for European strategic autonomy and competitiveness and highlighting the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group’s role in financing the clean transition, security and defence, and innovation. She also argued that deeper and more integrated capital markets are needed to provide financing at the required scale, pointing to the Savings and Investments Union as the vehicle to deliver a large, deep and liquid capital market. Von der Leyen noted that around 60% of EIB Group financing supported the clean transition in the previous year, including wind energy, power grids and energy efficiency. She said the EIB Group had quadrupled financing for security and defence to nearly 5% in 2025, citing examples such as a military base in Lithuania, drone systems, and aeronautics and radar technologies, and described EIB support for technological independence including AI-Gigafactories and capital mobilisation for tech start-ups and scale-ups. She referenced Commission proposals on market integration, securitisation and supervision, and called on the co-legislators to complete the work.
European Commission 2026-03-03
European Commission President von der Leyen urges completion of Savings and Investments Union reforms in message to the EIB Group Forum
European Commission President von der Leyen addressed the 4th EIB Group Forum, emphasizing the European Investment Bank's (EIB) role in financing the clean transition, security, defence, and innovation. She highlighted the need for deeper capital markets through the Savings and Investments Union and noted that 60% of EIB financing supported clean energy projects last year. Von der Leyen urged completion of Commission proposals on market integration, securitisation, and supervision.