An additional €150 million under the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) guarantee programs, as part of the EU’s “Global Gateway” initiative, will expand two programs already being implemented by the EBRD.
First, €100 million will be allocated to increase investment in digital infrastructure and services in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus, the Western Balkans, Turkey, Central Asia, Mongolia, Iraq, and the Southern Mediterranean. Second, €50 million will be allocated to support climate resilience in the Western Balkans.
“We are facing external forces trying to weaken Europe and voices in candidate countries claiming that EU membership is a dead end. That is precisely why we must speak to the citizens of our region more quickly and directly. And back up our words with actions,” said EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. “Today we are allocating new funds to help our neighbors create better digital services for their citizens and implement projects to protect and preserve the environment.”
The EBRD has been cooperating with the EU under two existing EFSD+ guarantee programs since 2020. The guarantees have already supported high-impact investments and attracted private-sector financing for a wide range of partners and enterprises, such as key energy suppliers in Ukraine, expanding access to digital technologies in rural areas of several countries, and much more.
The Global Gateway is a positive EU initiative aimed at reducing global investment inequality and developing smart, green, and safe connections in the digital, energy, and transport sectors, as well as strengthening health, education, and research systems.
The European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) was established in June 2021 and is a key instrument of the EU’s Global Gateway, providing grants and guarantees for investment projects through international financial institutions.
