CEB approves 11 new loans totalling €800 million

PARIS – The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has approved eleven new loans totalling €800 million to finance social investments across its member countries. The projects address critical needs in education, healthcare, housing, microfinance, and public services, with a strong focus on supporting vulnerable groups.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: A €10 million loan to Mikrofin will expand access to microcredit for underserved communities to improve living standards and promote economic empowerment. The CEB loan will support Mikrofin’s micro-loan products in business and agriculture, targeting micro-enterprises in rural areas and women entrepreneurs, who are expected to receive at least 60% of the funding. This loan is backed by a CEB’s Social Impact Account (SIA) guarantee.

France: A €150 million loan to the Département de la Haute-Savoie will finance structural investments in public secondary schools in response to rapid demographic growth. Co-financed with the European Investment Bank (EIB), the CEB loan will fund the construction of eight new secondary schools, full reconstruction of three others, and major renovations of two more. These investments will create modern, energy-efficient, and accessible learning environments, some of which will also serve as multipurpose spaces available to local associations and civil society organisations.

France: A €200 million loan to the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC) will support the construction and renovation of social housing and accommodation for vulnerable groups, including people in extreme precarity, young workers, students, and children under protection. The project addresses inequalities in access to housing as a key driver for social cohesion, integration and dignity. This loan builds on three previous others, achieving a total funding of €450 million, which over the course of nine years has supported the creation or renovation of over 15,000 places in social and low-income housing.

Hungary: A €50 million loan to the Hungarian Development Bank (MFB) will co-finance a student loan scheme administered by the Student Loan Centre (DHK). Co-financed with the EIB, the CEB loan will help provide interest-free loans covering tuition fees for students in higher education, including in rural, just transition and highly vulnerable areas. With support measures such as debt forgiveness for young mothers, the scheme ensures all students can pursue their education without interruption.

Lithuania: A €55 million loan to UAB Vilniaus viešasis transportas (VVT) will help decarbonise and modernise Vilnius’s public transport system. The loan will finance 145 battery-electric buses, 16 hydrogen buses and supporting infrastructure, helping the city reduce emissions and improve access for low-income and mobility-impaired residents. The project will be co-financed by the EIB and may be complemented by national and EU grant programmes. An intercreditor agreement will be established between the CEB, EIB, EBRD and NIB, the latter two having co-financed previous phases of the fleet renovation.

Netherlands: A €150 million loan to BNG Bank (Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten N.V.) will fund the construction, renovation, and modernisation of social and affordable housing. The programme tackles urgent housing shortages in the country amid quickly rising rents and long waitlists for social rental housing. Around 3,000 people – mainly low-income and disadvantaged households – are expected to benefit from the loan, strengthening social inclusion and reducing inequalities

Romania: A €39 million loan to Maramureș County will support a range of diverse investments in healthcare, education, cultural infrastructure, and road upgrades. These improvements will enhance living standards and service delivery in a region facing multiple vulnerabilities, while unlocking co-financing from EU funds. While the loan will benefit the county’s entire population, it will also provide targeted support to disadvantaged children, students at risk and residents of poorly connected areas, thereby promoting equity and inclusion.

Romania: An additional €30 million loan to Sector 5 of the Municipality of Bucharest will expand an ongoing residential renovation programme, increasing the number of buildings to be refurbished from 88 to 114. The investments will reduce carbon dioxide emissions, lower energy bills, and improve living conditions for households, many from marginalised neighbourhoods. The financing also includes energy-efficiency upgrades for schools in underserved areas, improving education conditions for vulnerable students.

Serbia: A €50 million loan to the Government will continue to support the construction of the Tirsova 2 paediatric hospital in Belgrade. Designed to serve over 100,000 children annually, the state-of-the-art facility will improve access to specialised care, particularly for children with disabilities, and serve as a training centre for medical students. CEB’s involvement supported early-stage technical assistance (TA), high-quality project preparation, and strong procurement oversight. The project continues to benefit from a Western Balkans Investment Framework grant and technical assistance grants from the CEB’s bilateral Norway Trust Account and the Slovak Inclusive Growth Account.

Spain: A €26 million loan to Empresa Municipal del Suelo y de la Vivienda de Getafe (EMSV Getafe) will finance 275 new affordable rental homes for young people, families, seniors, and residents with reduced mobility in the municipality of Getafe. Around 20% of the units will be reserved for households in economic hardship, supporting inclusive housing policies. The project will benefit from an InvestEU partial loan guarantee.

Spain: A €40 million loan to Sociedad de infraestructuras y medio ambiente de Castilla y Léon S.A. (SOMACYL) will finance the construction of 118 wastewater treatment plants in small municipalities across Castilla y León. The new operation builds on a previous €50 million loan and will help the region close the remaining infrastructure gaps and accelerate progress towards its “Zero Discharge Without Treatment” target, which aims to ensure that all urban wastewater is treated before discharge.