Source: European Union 2 Published on: 2026-07-07
•400 million euros to accelerate the deployment of renewable energies
•150 million euros allocated to financing French SMEs and mid-sized companies in security and defense.
•These new funds bring the total amount available to companies in these two strategic sectors for European autonomy to more than 1.1 billion euros.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Bpifrance announce the signing of two new financing operations totaling 550 million euros. These financings aim to support the energy transition and to strengthen European competitiveness and security by supporting the development of companies active in these two key sectors for European strategic autonomy.
This new phase of the partnership between the European public bank and the French public bank includes funding of 400 million euros dedicated to renewable energy projects as well as a package of 150 million euros allocated to SMEs and mid-sized companies in the security and defense sector.
One billion euros to accelerate investments in renewable energies
The first operation concerns the signing of a new tranche of 500 million euros under the framework financing contract mainly dedicated to photovoltaic solar projects, onshore wind projects, and electricity storage. This new financing line brings the total amount of EIB support for this program implemented by Bpifrance to one billion euros.
It directly contributes to the decarbonization goals of France and the European Union, to the European plan REPowerEU, as well as to the climate and environmental objectives of the European Investment Bank.
Thanks to the attractive financial terms of the EIB, Bpifrance will be able to continue and amplify its support for projects that contribute to increasing renewable electricity production, strengthening European energy sovereignty, and creating skilled jobs in green sectors.
Strengthened support for European security and defense
The second operation provides for an increase of 150 million euros, specifically dedicated to defense, added to an existing envelope of 500 million euros intended for the general financing of French SMEs and mid-sized companies, with a focus on innovation. The total thus amounts to 650 million euros, including 500 million for general financing and 150 million for defense.
This financing is part of strengthening the European Investment Bank Group’s commitment to security and defense, which has become one of the European Union’s strategic priorities. It will allow the companies concerned to access long-term financial resources to invest in innovation, industrial capacities, and technologies contributing to Europe’s resilience and strategic autonomy.
“These new financings illustrate the ability of the EIB and Bpifrance to respond to the major European priorities, saysAmbroise Fayolle, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank. Whether it is to accelerate the energy transition or to strengthen European defense and security, our goal is the same: to mobilize long-term resources to serve the companies and projects that build a safer, more competitive, and more sustainable Europe.
“We are very pleased to once again strengthen our strategic partnership with the European Investment Bank through the signing of these two major refinancing operations,” explainsPascal Lagarde, Executive Director, International, Strategy, Studies, Development at Bpifrance. These agreements, concerning both the financing of SMEs in the security and defense sectors as well as the development of renewable energies, fully illustrate the mutual trust between our two institutions and our joint commitment to serving European priorities. Thanks to the support of the EIB, Bpifrance is able to intensify its action in favor of financing the real economy by supporting French companies in key sectors for sovereignty and energy transition.
A rapidly growing partnership
These two signatures illustrate the ongoing development of cooperation between the EIB and Bpifrance. Over the past few years, this partnership has expanded both in volume and in sectoral diversity. Beyond renewable energies, it covers green investments for SMEs and mid-caps, industrial equipment, and energy renovation of buildings related to the transition to a decarbonized economy, as well as security and defense, innovation, and financing of guarantees related to exports. To date, the outstanding amount of operations signed between the two institutions amounts to nearly two billion euros.
General Information
The European Investment Bank Group (EIB Group), whose shareholders are the 27 member states of the European Union (EU), is the EU’s long-term financing institution and one of the world’s largest multilateral development banks. In 2025, it signed 100 billion euros in new financing and advisory missions (including 13 billion euros in France) in support of more than 870high-impact projectsrelevant deeight major prioritiesthat support the implementation ofmajor objectivesof the EU: climate action and the environment, digital transition and technological innovation, security and defense, territorial cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, strong global partnerships, and the union of savings and investments. In addition to long-term loans for major infrastructure, the EIB Group mobilizes private investments in support of innovative, high-risk companies and projects, playing an increasing role in the European markets for seed-investment loans, venture capital, guarantees, and securitization.
Media services will be able to findhererecent high-resolution photos of our headquarters in Luxembourg.
Bpifrance finances companies – at every stage of their development – through loans, guarantees, and equity. Bpifrance supports them in their innovation and international projects. Bpifrance also manages their export activities through a wide range of products. Consulting, a university, networking, and acceleration programs aimed at startups, SMEs, and mid-sized companies are also part of the offer provided to entrepreneurs. Thanks to Bpifrance and its 50 regional offices, entrepreneurs benefit from a close, unique, and effective interlocutor to help them face their challenges.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the CDC Habitat group have signed a second financing tranche of 250 million euros to support the construction of intermediate rental housing in France. This operation complements an initial tranche of the same amount, as part of a total envelope of 500 million euros approved in 2025.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved financing of up to €345 million for Alperia, one of Italy’s leading green energy companies, to support a broad investment programme across multiple sectors, designed to strengthen the sustainability and security of energy supply in South Tyrol. The first €200 million tranche was signed on 1 July 2026 by Jean-Christophe Laloux, EIB Director General and Head of EU Lending and Advisory, and Luis Amort, Chief Executive Officer of Alperia.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Orano announced today the signing of a €125 million credit line to finance the development of Orano Med and its industrial infrastructure, notably the construction of the Advanced Thorium Extraction Facility (ATEF), located in Bessines-sur-Gartempe, France.