In a statement issued on 12 March, the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group announced that it approved EUR 547 million for Croatia in 2025, primarily to support companies’ technological growth, green and digital projects, and urban renewal, with a significant share directed to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through loans, guarantees, and venture capital financing. EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwinska said in the statement that Croatia demonstrates how cooperation between the EIB Group, public authorities, and the private sector can turn European Union (EU) priorities into concrete benefits for citizens and businesses across the country.“Hrvatska is an excellent example of how close cooperation between the EIB Group, the public sector, and the private sector can transform European priorities into tangible benefits at the local level. From Dalmatia to Slavonia, we continue strengthening our role as a partner Croatia can rely on in creating better opportunities for its citizens and businesses,” Czerwinska said in the statement.For his part, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tomislav Coric said in the same statement that the EIB is one of Croatia’s key financial partners and that the EUR 547 million approved in 2025 demonstrates the strength of their cooperation and its tangible impact on the Croatian economy. He added that these investments support business growth, innovation, and the green transition while also improving infrastructure and services for citizens.Meanwhile, the EIB said in its statement that the EUR 547 million approved for Croatia in 2025 will support companies’ technological growth, green and digital projects, and urban development, with more than half of the funding directed to SMEs, mid-cap companies, and public entities.The package included EUR 325 million from the EIB, EUR 211 million from the European Investment Fund (EIF), and EUR 11 million from the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).The statement also recalled that in 2025 the EIB approved a EUR 22 million loan for development projects in Split, along with EUR 150 million for the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR), EUR 50 million for Privredna banka Zagreb (PBZ), and a EUR 100 million guarantee for Erste & Steiermarkische Bank (Erste) to support competitiveness and reduce emissions of companies and public entities. Overall, the EIB Group has invested EUR 3.2 billion in Croatia over the past five years.The statement also noted that the EIF last year supported Croatian SMEs and mid-cap companies through guarantees, venture capital and growth funds, and financing for projects in innovation and infrastructure.It also acted as an anchor investor in NVision Ventures under the Croatian Venture Capital Initiative 2 (CVCi2) and approved more than EUR 138 million through Croatian banks to expand financing for the domestic private sector. (ICE ZAGABRIA)

Fonte notizia: HRT online edition 12/03/2026