Partnerships

Partnerships help maximise the CEB’s effectiveness as Europe’s social development bank. They are also vehicles for sharing knowledge and best practices, and underpin multilateral action

Investing in people and enhancing human capital

Investing in people’s health, wellbeing and education is essential for social cohesion and fostering inclusive, thriving communities. In 2024, the Bank approved six loans for health and social care in four countries, totalling €603 million, six loans totalling over €594 million to support education in six countries, as well as €142 million for the protection and rehabilitation of historic and cultural heritage in Cyprus and Romania.

European partners celebrate HERO pilot project achievements

European partners celebrate HERO pilot project achievements

Historical and cultural heritage in Romania, phase 4

The CEB project finances the renovation of cultural and heritage assets in Romania, including the construction of a new Opera in Iași, benefiting residents and visitors.

CEB approves seven new loans totalling €685 million

The funds will support diverse sectors, including education and vocational training, social and affordable housing, urban, rural, and regional development, and the protection and rehabilitation of historic and cultural heritage.

Water for all: A case for investing in water and sanitation in Europe

By Jérôme Costanzo, Technical Advisor for Water and Sanitation

CEB approves eight new loans totalling €1.1 billion

Projects will support resilience and social cohesion across Europe with a focus on refugees and displaced persons and vulnerable households.

CEB and Sector 6 in Bucharest join forces to build a state-of-the-art hospital

The CEB and Bucharest Sector 6 Municipality marked a significant milestone today with the signing of a €72.9 million loan agreement, backed by the InvestEU Fund, which will enable the construction of a greenfield hospital.

Projects and beneficiaries

CEB trust funds support projects across Europe that target the most vulnerable, addressing housing, education, and healthcare needs. Beneficiaries include vulnerable persons in the Balkans, home repairs in Ukraine, micro-entrepreneurs in North Macedonia.

Trust funds and initiatives

Trust funds play a key role in supporting the Bank’s efforts to boost social cohesion in Europe by enabling it to extend its reach and do more for the most vulnerable.

Integration of Roma

The Housing and Empowerment for Roma (HERO) project, managed by the CEB, improves access to housing and employment for vulnerable Roma families in the Slovak Republic and Romania.

Providing housing in the Balkans

The Regional Housing Programme provided housing to 36 000 vulnerable people displaced during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. The RHP was managed by the CEB with financial support from the EU, the Programme’s largest donor, as well as the United States, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Italy and other countries.

Housing for 36 000 vulnerable persons in the Western Balkans

The CEB's Regional Housing Programme (RHP) provided housing to 36 000 vulnerable persons displaced during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia. The programme was financed mainly by the European Union and implemented by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia.

InvestEU: CEB to support Municipality of Bucharest with €1.8 million in technical assistance to improve healthcare infrastructure

The CEB and the Municipality of Sector 6 in Bucharest, Romania signed a €1.8 million grant agreement to finance the planning and implementation of a greenfield hospital. This technical assistance is supported by the InvestEU Advisory Hub and will complement a CEB €72.9 million loan, backed by an InvestEU guarantee, for the hospital construction.

Partnerships

Partnerships are essential for maximising the CEB’s effectiveness in fulfilling its social mission. They are also vehicles for sharing knowledge and best practices and underpin multilateral action.

Aid to refugees from Ukraine

Support to rural micro and small enterprises

CEB and Patria Credit sign a €10 million loan agreement to support microfinance in Romania

This loan, supported by the InvestEU guarantee programme, aims at promoting microfinance for very small, vulnerable entrepreneurs in Romania’s rural areas and accelerating the digital transformation of Patria Credit.

CEB approves 14 new loans totalling €1.1 billion

Loans for Albania, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Malta, North Macedonia, Romania, Slovak Republic, Sweden and first-ever one for Ukraine in a large variety of CEB’s sectors of action.

CEB partners with REDI to promote Roma entrepreneurship and inclusion

The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) supports 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.