CEB approves twelve new loans totalling €983.5 million

Budva, Montenegro - The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has approved twelve new loans totalling €983.5 million in support of social infrastructure projects in sectors of health and social care, education and vocational training, urban, rural and regional development, as well as disaster response and microfinance. The funding will benefit vulnerable groups and provide financing to social economy actors, women-led businesses and microentrepreneurs from underserved communities.

ALBANIA: A €10 million loan to Fed Invest, backed by a guarantee from the CEB’s Social Impact Account (SIA), will support employment and income-generating activities for vulnerable groups throughout the country. A minimum of 35% of the funds will be allocated to women entrepreneurs. The project is expected to assist 3,000 micro-enterprises and farms, and contribute to the creation of at least 250 jobs. A €49,000 technical assistance grant from the Slovak Inclusive Growth Account will support Fed Invest’s financial literacy services for residents of rural areas, including women.

FRANCE: An additional loan of €150 million to Nantes Métropole will continue to part-finance public transport investments, including new and renovated transport lines, and key infrastructure such as the Anne de Bretagne bridge and the Babinière park and ride. This is part of a wider strategy to modernise the public transport network and respond to the region’s development and mobility challenges. The investments are expected to improve services and reduce regional inequalities, especially for the elderly, disabled and residents of priority districts, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the city.

ITALY: A €250 million loan to Intesa Sanpaolo will fund social economy organisations which, despite their importance for inclusion and resilience, face limited access to finance. Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy’s market leader in social economy financing, will provide vital support to vulnerable groups and complement social assistance. The two-year programme, which is expected to support around 1,000 social cooperatives, foundations, associations and other entities, will mirror Intesa’s current portfolio of social assistance, education, employment services, health services and sports-related activities.

KOSOVO: A €20.5 million loan to Kosovo, co-financed with the European Investment Bank (EIB), will fund new hospital equipment and related infrastructure for six public hospitals providing specialised and emergency care across several regions. The project aligns with Kosovo’s Health Sector Strategy for 2025 – 2030, outlining investment needs and reform milestones to address significant challenges. Grants up to €750,000 will be made available to accelerate project implementation and enhance social impact.

LITHUANIA: A €50 million loan to Kaunas City Municipality will support urban renewal projects in line with the city’s Strategic Action Plan 2025-2027 to modernise infrastructure, strengthen socio-economic resilience and improve the quality of life for its citizens. In particular, the CEB loan will co-finance the construction and reconstruction of two swimming pools, a multifunctional cultural centre and the revitalisation of Town Hall Square. These investments will improve public amenities and offer subsidised social programmes for youth and seniors.

REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA: A €30 million loan to the Republic of Moldova will help the government invest in the Model Schools reform and modernise up to 15 schools. The CEB will mobilise a €5 million investment grant from the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P) fund to complete the blended finance package. A key feature of the project is the inclusion of energy efficiency and clean energy measures, such as upgrading buildings from "D" to "B" energy class and integrating the use of renewable energy. The project is expected to benefit 12,800 students and 800 school staff.

MONTENEGRO: A €83 million loan to Montenegro will co-finance priority health infrastructure projects in the country, including a new General Hospital in Pljevlja, the City Kvart Health Centre and the Hematology Clinic at the Clinical Centre in Podgorica. More than 30 public health facilities will also benefit from new equipment, reducing diagnostic waiting times. The project, co-financed with the EIB, will improve universal access to quality healthcare, benefiting vulnerable groups such as the elderly, low-income households, displaced persons, persons with disabilities and those living in rural communities.

A €10 million loan to Alter Modus d.o.o., Montenegro’s leading microfinance institution, will co-finance its "Credit for Micro and Small Enterprises" product line, supporting 4,000 micro-enterprises and farms and potentially creating over 250 new jobs. Gender equality will be promoted through Alter Modus’s commitment to allocate, on a best effort basis, 40% of the CEB loan to women entrepreneurs.

POLAND: A €200 million loan to the government will support recovery efforts following the recent devastating floods in south-western Poland. The CEB funding will ensure financial support to families with damaged homes and vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities. Previous CEB-funded flood prevention projects, co-financed with the World Bank, played a key role in reducing the number of deaths during the recent floods. In particular, the 183 million cubic metre dry polder in Raciborz helped to contain the Odra River flood wave, protecting major cities Opole and Wrocław.

SLOVAK REPUBLIC: A €30 million loan to the Žilina Self-governing Region will help co-finance regional priority investments and contribute to leveraging EU funds. The investments will cover a wide range of sub-projects, from the renovation of education, health, cultural and social facilities to the repair of roads and bridges, the construction of cycle paths and the improvement of access to public services. The loan will benefit 687 000 inhabitants of Žilina region as well as some neighbouring areas in the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic and Poland.

SLOVENIA: A €50 million loan to the Slovenian Export and Development Bank (SID Banka) will finance municipal infrastructure projects in the country, addressing critical challenges and promoting sustainable growth. The CEB loan will support housing initiatives that benefit low-income and vulnerable groups and promote social cohesion; it will also respond to the post-2023 flood recovery needs. The loan exemplifies CEB’s commitment to inclusive, resilient and sustainable communities in Europe, with the combination of CEB’s long-term financing and SID Banka’s strong governance framework, cost-efficiency and high impact.

SPAIN: A €100 million loan to Nuevo MicroBank, Spain’s only dedicated microfinance institution, will expand access to finance for micro-enterprises and vulnerable individuals. CEB has been a longstanding partner of MicroBank since its inception, and this operation is the eighth CEB loan to the institution. At the end of 2023, MicroBank reported that all previously allocated CEB loans, amounting to €661 million in total, had enabled the provision of more than 69,000 microloans.