New Memorandum Strengthens Cooperation Between EIB Group and CDP on Infrastructure and Climate

New Memorandum Strengthens Cooperation Between EIB Group and CDP on Infrastructure and Climate

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Bank Group and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti have signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen strategic investment cooperation in Italy and internationally. The agreement expands joint action in infrastructure, innovation, digitalisation, climate action, SME support and regional cohesion. It aligns with both institutions’ strategic plans and introduces coordinated project development, advisory services and financing mechanisms, including InvestEU. The partnership also extends through EIB Global to support high-impact initiatives beyond the EU, reinforcing Italy’s contribution to sustainable development and economic resilience.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 4-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — European Investment Bank Group and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti have signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding designed to intensify strategic investment cooperation in Italy and beyond. The agreement, concluded in Luxembourg during the EIB Forum, reinforces joint efforts to promote sustainable growth, economic resilience and long-term competitiveness.

The EIB Group, comprising the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund, will expand its collaboration with CDP across a broad range of priority sectors. These include sustainable and social infrastructure, innovation and digitalisation, climate mitigation and adaptation, support for small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-caps, as well as projects enhancing economic security, strategic autonomy and regional cohesion.

The new agreement builds on the partnership framework established in 2022 and reflects a shared objective of mobilising high-impact public and private investment. It aims to strengthen Italy’s long-term development while contributing to broader European Union policy goals.

The MoU aligns with CDP’s 2025–2027 Strategic Plan and the EIB Group’s 2024–2027 Strategic Roadmap. It establishes a structured cooperation model to improve project planning, origination and implementation. Both institutions will coordinate the use of regional, national and EU financial resources, including advisory platforms, EU mandates and financial instruments such as InvestEU, to enhance Italy’s capacity to deliver future-oriented investment projects.

In addition to domestic initiatives, the agreement extends cooperation through EIB Global, the EIB’s development arm, supporting investment activities in partner countries outside the European Union. This dimension aims to strengthen Italy’s international engagement in climate protection, sustainable infrastructure development, access to essential services and private-sector growth.

The partnership framework also provides for the development of new lending approaches, expanded advisory services and faster execution of investment pipelines in key sectors. To ensure effective collaboration, the MoU introduces a coordination mechanism that facilitates strategic information exchange, alongside provisions for staff exchanges and specialised study visits to foster operational synergies.

The renewed agreement reflects a shared commitment to combining financial expertise, institutional experience and long-term strategic planning to advance sustainable, inclusive and resilient economic development.

Background information

The EIB Group

The EIB Group is the financing arm of the European Union, owned by the 27 Member States, and one of the largest multilateral development banks in the world. In 2025, the EIB Group signed €100 billion of new financing and advisory services for over 870 high-impact projects serving eight core priorities that support EU policy objectives: climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, territorial cohesion, agriculture and the bioeconomy, social infrastructure, strong global partnerships, and the savings and investments union. Beyond long-term loans for large infrastructure, the EIB Group crowds in private investment for high-risk innovative projects and businesses, with a growing role in Europe’s markets for venture debt, venture capital, guarantees and securitisations.

The EIF is the subsidiary of the EIB Group specialised in providing guarantees and equity to improve access to finance for small and medium-sized businesses and startups across Europe. Acting as an anchor investor, through its extensive network of partnering banks and investment funds the EIF mobilises private investment and nurtures the EU ecosystem of venture capital funds to support innovative European entrepreneurs.

In 2023 the EIF, together with six Member States (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands), launched the European Tech Champions Initiative, a fund of funds to scale up innovative startups. As of February 2026, this initiative has already enabled the creation of 13 European venture capital mega-funds and scaled up 38 companies, including 11 unicorns (startups with more than €1 billion in capital). Photos of the EIB Group’s management and headquarters, logo files and video B-roll for media use are available here.

Cassa Depositi e Prestiti

Cassa Depositi e Prestiti is Italy’s National Promotional Institution, supporting the Italian economy since 1850. CDP’s primary objective is to accelerate Italy’s industrial and infrastructure development in order to foster economic and social growth. CDP focuses its activities on sustainable local development, supporting innovation and the growth of Italian companies, including internationally. In cooperation with local authorities, CDP acts both as a financier and as an advisor for the implementation of infrastructure projects and the improvement of public‑interest services. CDP also actively participates in international cooperation initiatives to support projects in developing countries and emerging markets. Cassa Depositi e Prestiti is entirely financed by private capital, through the issuance of postal savings bonds and postal savings books, as well as through issuances on national and international financial markets.

InvestEU

The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps to crowd in private investment for the European Union’s strategic priorities such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. InvestEU brings all EU financial instruments previously available for supporting investments within the European Union together under one roof, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is deployed through implementing partners that will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increase their risk-bearing capacity and thus mobilise at least €372 billion in additional investment.

Media Contact:

Enrico Possenti
e.possenti@eib.org
352 4379 – 82144

Press Office

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SOURCE: European Investment Bank