European Investment Bank (EIB) Group President Nadia Calviño visited Croatia today to chart future financing for green, digital and other key development projects in the country. As part of a tour of European Union Member States, President Calviño met Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Marko Primorac to discuss the EIB Group’s financial and advisory support to Croatia. She also visited new electric passenger trains co-financed by the EIB as part of long-term support for Croatia’s railway infrastructure and was joined by the Ministry of Sea,
Transport and Infrastructure State Secretaries Josip Bilaver and Žarko Tušek. To date, the EIB Group has committed €9.6 billion to activities in Croatia. In 2024, the EIB Group expects to surpass €1 billion in financial commitments, focusing on Croatia’s green and digital transition, sustainable urban infrastructure, and the growth of SMEs and mid-caps.
‘Croatia is an important partner. The EIB is investing in priority areas for the future, from sustainable infrastructure to energy, small and medium-sized enterprises, schools, hospitals and affordable housing’’, said President Calviño.
The EIB Group will pursue long-term financing and advisory support for the country’s priority investments that accelerate the green and digital transitions, including through sustainable transport, renewable energy and social infrastructure such as affordable housing, healthcare and education. The EIB’s landmark €900 million commitment will help Croatia transform its railways, shifting traffic from road to rail, reducing emissions, and enhancing regional connectivity and competitiveness, by facilitating the travel time and daily life of the entire Croatian population and some 22 million passengers per year.
Primorac highlighted the strong partnership between Croatia and the EIB Group: ‘’The areas of cooperation are numerous and range from infrastructure, energy, entrepreneurship and SMEs to research and development. All of the projects supported by the EIB Group are also aligned with our shared EU policy priorities, such as green energy transition, digitalization, territorial and social cohesion, innovative technologies and security. We are looking forward to deepening and expanding our cooperation in the future.’’
The EIB group have established groundbreaking financial instruments to help Croatia retain its talent and develop a modern economy based on innovation. In cooperation with the national promotional bank HBOR and Slovenian SID Banka, the group has launched Croatia’s first technology-transfer fund to help the country improve its competitiveness. This will be a major contribution to develop local capital markets.
EIB Group’s Decades-long Partnership with Croatia Drives Record Investments for Sustainable Growth
Since 1977, the EIB Group has invested over €9.6 billion in Croatia, demonstrating its longstanding commitment to the country’s sustainable growth. The EIB Group’s Strategic Roadmap for investment aligns with Croatia’s national priorities, focusing on areas such as climate action, infrastructure modernisation, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to boost innovation and competitiveness. Recent projects financed by the EIB Group in Croatia reflect these goals.
The EIB is also helping major Croatian cities like Zagreb and Split to accelerate their green and digital agendas, with investments in urban mobility, energy efficiency, and social infrastructure, including education and affordable housing. Key advisory projects include support for the decarbonization of Zagreb’s public transport, expansion of the Dubrava hospital, digital upgrades to Croatia’s motorway network, and the upcoming technical advisory program on social and affordable Housing, involving five cities in Croatia (Zagreb, Split, Osijek, Rijeka, Varaždin), set to launch in the coming weeks.