Europe’s social model is a global benchmark for well-being, but demographic ageing, the green and digital transitions, and recurring economic shocks are putting it under strain. Sustaining progress will require smart, efficient social investment that mobilises public and private resources.
This report looks at how the EIB Group is responding to these challenges by financing education, healthcare and housing projects across the European Union. It highlights the role of social investment in boosting productivity, resilience and inclusion, and shows how the EIB Group support helps to renew Europe’s social model for future generations.
Europe’s social model is a global benchmark for well-being, but demographic ageing, the green and digital transitions, and recurring economic shocks are putting it under strain. Sustaining progress will require smart, efficient social investment that mobilises public and private resources.
This report looks at how the EIB Group is responding to these challenges by financing education, healthcare and housing projects across the European Union. It highlights the role of social investment in boosting productivity, resilience and inclusion, and shows how the EIB Group support helps to renew Europe’s social model for future generations.
Key messages include:
- Social investment is at the heart of Europe’s economic success.
- The EIB Group is the European Union’s main financier of education and healthcare infrastructure – The Bank invested €9.6 billion invested in social infrastructure in 2024, including €3.4 billion in education and €2.8 for health infrastructure to billion promote well-being and a productive workforce.
- The EIB Group is ramping up support for affordable and sustainable housing – from 3.4 billion in 2024 to a new €6 billion lending in 2026, improving mobility and access to jobs.
There is a separate chapter on affordable and sustainable housing. Highlights include:
- The EIB Group has long-standing experience in supporting affordable and sustainable housing. Since 2024, housing has become one of its strategic priorities. Over the past five years, the EIB Group has invested €15.6 billion in affordable and sustainable housing. In 2024 alone, €3.4 billion was invested, supporting the construction or renovation of 127 000 housing units.
- As the European Union’s climate bank, the EIB Group supports investment in energy efficiency and climate resilience for residential buildings.
- The EIB Group supports research and development in innovative building technologies through infrastructure investment and venture debt.
- The EIB Group provides extensive advisory services to strengthen national housing frameworks.
- In March 2025, the EIB Group and the European Commission introduced a one-stop-shop portal to facilitate access to information. The portal details the EIB Group’s offering and eligibility criteria and provides useful resources including case studies, data and guidance for final beneficiaries.
The report is available here.
External link
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 