Projects in focus

Innovating to save lives: the value of entrepreneurship

To mark Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day 2024, we spotlight the story of DOK-ING, a globally recognised Croatian company whose innovative robotic systems is used in emergency response and post-conflict recovery.

Croatia MSME financing

Video: Celebrating the Council of Europe’s 75th anniversary

Video: IWD2024

To mark this year’s International Women’s Day, colleagues across the CEB shared how they feel included in the workplace and how they help forge a more inclusive environment for women.

Empowering women entrepreneurs through microfinance: The inspiring journey of Martina Grigorova

Martina Grigorova, Chief Executive Officer of SIS Credit, is at the forefront of empowering women entrepreneurs in Bulgaria through innovative microfinance solutions. As the country grapples with economic challenges and a burgeoning need for social entrepreneurship, SIS Credit’s upcoming partnership with the CEB will help the microfinance sector grow.

Bulgaria Microfinance

Her own house: the building blocks for women’s entrepreneurship

We celebrate IWD2024 by highlighting how the CEB has laid the foundation of women’s economic empowerment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia by providing them with stable housing through the Regional Housing Programme (RHP).

Montenegro Refugees and migrants, Social and affordable housing

Constructing education: How the Finns do it

How Finland is modernising education with innovative schools

Finland Education and vocational training

VIDEO: Helping Lithuania welcome refugees from Ukraine

With two grants from Migrant and Refugee Fund the CEB helped improve living conditions for Ukrainian refugees in Lithuania, particularly children and persons with disabilities.

Lithuania Refugees and migrants

Milan: The school that thinks differently

Milan primary school illustrates how innovative EIB-CEB financing can spark change in education and improve learning.

Italy Education and vocational training

VIDEO: Violence against women

Through its social enterprise ‘Bagel Bejgl,’ NGO Atina from Belgrade, Serbia - winner of the CEB Award for Social Cohesion 2023 - provides employment and economic independence to women victims of gender-based violence and trafficking.

Serbia

CEB partners with REDI to promote Roma entrepreneurship and inclusion

We support the inclusion of the Roma community, Europe’s largest ethnic minority group, through a range of initiatives. These efforts aim to empower Roma individuals by promoting entrepreneurship, enhancing employment opportunities and fostering social integration.

Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia Microfinance

In transit: Supporting migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Learn more about the cooperation between European Investment Bank, IOM and the CEB to improve living conditions of migrants and refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Refugees and migrants

Financing water resilience to face climate challenges

On the occasion of the World Water Week 2023 we take the opportunity to delve into some of our projects that exemplify our dedication to creating a more water-wise future.

Cyprus, Lithuania Protection of the environment

A sense of community: supporting the inclusion of Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic

With a grant amount of close to €400 000 through the Migrant and Refugee Fund, the CEB has been supporting the Refugee Facilities Administration of the Ministry of Interior in welcoming and integrating refugees from Ukraine since 2022.

Czech Republic Refugees and migrants

Her own boss: empowering women entrepreneurs

On International Women’s Day 2023 we are showcasing the CEB’s support to a microfinance organisation Mi-Bospo, which enables women to start and grow successful small businesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Microfinance

Our Ukraine response: a photo story

We disbursed €6.9 million from Migrant and Refugee Fund to provide aid to refugees from Ukraine through partner institutions or national authorities. In this photo story we are bringing you snippets of what our financial aid is helping achieve on the ground.

Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovak Republic

The CEB and central credit unions join forces to support Lithuanian MSMEs

The CEB constantly expands its support to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across its countries of operation. Recently we began working with the credit union sector in Lithuania, signing loan agreements with two central credit unions to support MSMEs throughout the country.

Lithuania MSME financing

VIDEO: Financing preschool facilities in Croatia

For more than 20 years we have been partnering with HBOR - Hrvatska banka za obnovu i razvitak to finance social infrastructure across Croatia.

Croatia Education and vocational training

Rabobank and the CEB: driving sustainable change

The CEB has a well-established relationship with Rabobank, the Netherlands’ major cooperative bank and key financier of the social economy. Two CEB loans in particular have enabled Rabobank to support sectors with considerable social value in the Netherlands: healthcare and education.

Netherlands Health and social care

A home for all

On the occasion of the CEB’s annual Joint Meeting of the Governing Board and the Administrative Council held in Dublin, Ireland from 7-10 July, a delegation visited Broome Lodge, a housing project that received CEB financing through Ireland’s state-owned Housing Finance Agency (HFA).

Ireland Social and affordable housing

Diagnosing success for a pioneering company

As we mark the MSME Day on 27 June, we look at how the CEB is helping an innovative business in Hungary to become a big player on the global stage.

Hungary MSME financing