European Investment Bank Partners with Romanian Development Bank to Advance Sustainable Water Projects

European Investment Bank Partners with Romanian Development Bank to Advance Sustainable Water Projects

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Bank will advise the Romanian Investment and Development Bank to strengthen climate-resilient water and wastewater infrastructure across Romania. The agreement, signed at the EIB Forum, includes advisory support, capacity building and project preparation assistance to help modernise ageing systems and address increasing climate risks. The partnership will improve project appraisal, governance and compliance with EU standards, particularly benefiting smaller municipalities and regional water operators. The initiative aligns with the EIB’s broader €15 billion global commitment to water security and climate resilience between 2025 and 2027.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 4-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — European Investment Bank will provide advisory support to Romanian Investment and Development Bank to strengthen Romania’s water and wastewater infrastructure. The new advisory services agreement, signed at the EIB Forum in Luxembourg, aims to enhance the capacity of the Romanian Investment and Development Bank (BID) to structure and finance climate-resilient water projects across the country.

Romania is seeking to modernise ageing water systems in response to increasing climate-related risks, including more frequent droughts and flooding, while ensuring compliance with European Union environmental standards. The agreement follows a request from BID to bolster its expertise in evaluating, structuring and monitoring water infrastructure investments aligned with long-term climate adaptation strategies.

As one of the largest multilateral financiers in the global water sector and a longstanding partner of Romania in this field, the EIB will deliver capacity-building and project-related advisory services. The objective is to strengthen BID’s role as a national financial intermediary capable of translating policy goals into bankable projects that meet EU legislation and EIB standards.

EIB Vice-President Ioannis Tsakiris stated that, as the EU climate bank, the EIB supports strong national institutions that can transform strategic ambitions into impactful investments. Through this partnership, the EIB aims to reinforce BID’s financial and technical capabilities to assess and manage water projects that deliver long-term benefits to communities while maintaining full alignment with European standards.

Raluca Nicolescu, General Director of BID Romania, highlighted that the advisory collaboration will improve the preparation and structuring of water and wastewater projects. She noted that enhanced access to financing — particularly for regional operators and smaller municipalities — will contribute to stronger climate resilience and more sustainable water management nationwide.

Under the agreement, EIB Advisory will work closely with BID to enhance project appraisal processes, climate proofing methodologies and compliance with EU regulations, including adherence to the “Do No Significant Harm” environmental principle. The cooperation will also reinforce environmental and social standards, strengthen governance frameworks and improve oversight across the entire project lifecycle — from initial identification through implementation and performance monitoring.

Additionally, the partnership will foster improved coordination between BID and regional water operators. Standardised tools, technical guidance and training initiatives will help create a stronger and more consistent pipeline of projects ready for financing, accelerating investments in resilient and sustainable water infrastructure.

The initiative complements the EIB’s broader global commitment to invest €15 billion between 2025 and 2027 to enhance water security, sustainability and climate resilience worldwide.

Background information  

EIB Group

The European Investment Bank (ElB) Group is the long-term financing institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. In 2025, the EIB Group signed €100 billion of new financing for over 870 high-impact projects in eight core priorities that support EU policy objectives: climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and the bioeconomy, social infrastructure, strong global partnerships and the savings and investment union. High-quality, up-to-date photos of the organisation’s headquarters for media use are available here.

BID  

The Romanian Investment and Development Bank is the only development bank in the country and is 100% owned by the Romanian state through the Ministry of Finance. It was created at the end of 2023 through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and has an ambitious mission and a clear set of strategic objectives.

Media Contact:

Clara Wanjek-Bauer
c.wanjek-bauer@ext.eib.org
+352 4379 – 79529

Press Office

press@eib.org
+352 43791

SOURCE: European Investment Bank