EIB Group and Hungarian Partners Explore Investment Support for SMEs, Energy and Social Infrastructure

EIB Group and Hungarian Partners Explore Investment Support for SMEs, Energy and Social Infrastructure

(IN BRIEF) EIB Vice-President Marko Primorac visited Budapest on 13 and 14 July to deepen the EIB Group’s cooperation with Hungary and identify areas where it can support the country’s reform priorities, investment needs and social development. During the visit, Primorac met Judit Lannert, Minister for Children and Education, and János Gerendás, CEO of the Hungarian Development Bank, MFB. Discussions focused on education, skills, innovation, SME finance, start-ups, energy and grid investment, transport, housing, social infrastructure and the preparation of bankable projects. The visit followed an EIF mission to Hungary and highlighted the EIB Group’s coordinated approach to supporting SME competitiveness, venture capital, affordable housing, social infrastructure and sustainable investment. Singce 1991, the EIB Group has supported Hungary with more than €25 billion in investment. Primorac also participated in the Budapest Energy and Security Talks, where he underlined the role of energy investment in Europe’s security, competitiveness and strategic autonomy.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 15-Jul-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Investment Bank Group is deepening its cooperation with Hungary as it works with national partners to turn reform priorities into investment, economic growth and improved living standards.

EIB Vice-President Marko Primorac visited Budapest on 13 and 14 July for meetings with Hungarian public-sector partners, including Judit Lannert, Minister for Children and Education, and János Gerendás, Chief Executive Officer of the Hungarian Development Bank, MFB.

The visit focused on identifying areas where the EIB Group can best support Hungary’s economic and social development priorities, ongoing reforms and investment needs.

Discussions covered education and skills, innovation, improved access to finance for businesses, energy and grid investment, transport, housing, social infrastructure and the preparation of bankable projects capable of attracting financing.

The meetings continued the EIB Group’s dialogue with the Hungarian government, which was launched during Vice-President Primorac’s first visit to Hungary in June.

“We continue to work with our Hungarian partners to identify where our cooperation can have the greatest impact: strengthening the economy, helping businesses grow and improving people’s quality of life,” said Vice-President Primorac.

He added that his meetings with Minister Lannert and Mr Gerendás confirmed strong potential to support Hungary’s economic reform priorities, including better access to finance for SMEs, start-ups and innovative companies.

According to Primorac, this is a key driver of sustainable growth not only for Hungary, but also for the wider European Union.

The EIB Group has been a long-term development partner for Hungary for more than three decades. Since 1991, it has supported the Hungarian economy with more than €25 billion in investment.

During the visit, Primorac also highlighted the role of the European Investment Fund, part of the EIB Group, in expanding access to finance for Hungarian small businesses, start-ups and scale-ups.

Earlier in July, an EIF mission to Hungary identified interest in further technical discussions with Hungarian counterparts on SME competitiveness, the innovation and start-up ecosystem, venture capital, affordable housing and social infrastructure.

The EIF supports SMEs through financial intermediaries, using equity, guarantees and national partnerships to strengthen entrepreneurship, innovation, competitiveness and regional growth across the European Union.

MFB is one of the EIB Group’s key partners in Hungary. Cooperation between the institutions has covered credit lines, green investment, advisory support and access to finance for businesses.

Recent examples include a €100 million EIB loan signed in 2023 to support energy-efficiency and renewable-energy investments by Hungarian SMEs and mid-caps through MFB. Earlier cooperation included EIB credit lines of up to €200 million each to finance SME, mid-cap and public-sector projects across Hungary.

The partnership has also included EU-backed advisory support to strengthen MFB’s capacity to prepare, finance and monitor sustainable investment projects.

The EIB Group and MFB are now exploring cooperation models to accelerate the deployment of EU resources in Hungary. This includes EIB advisory support aimed at strengthening project appraisal, structuring and implementation capacity at Hungary’s national development bank.

During his Budapest visit, Vice-President Primorac also took part in the Budapest Energy and Security Talks, a forum bringing together policymakers, foreign-policy experts and business leaders to discuss energy security and strategic challenges in Central and Eastern Europe.

He joined a panel on how Europe can improve energy security while responding to climate pressures.

“Energy investment now sits at the heart of Europe’s security, competitiveness and strategic autonomy,” said Primorac.

He said the EIB Group’s priority is to help Europe build an energy system that is more affordable for households and businesses, more reliable during shocks and more sustainable over the long term.

Primorac added that lower and more predictable energy costs, fewer disruptions and cleaner power can improve daily life for citizens while giving European companies the confidence to invest, innovate and grow.

The EIB Group can support this transition by financing grids, storage, clean technologies and resilient infrastructure, while contributing market knowledge and project expertise to practical delivery.

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SOURCE: European Investment Bank