15 October – Following the European Investment Bank (EIB) Board Seminar with civil society, Counter Balance raises serious concerns about the diminishing opportunities for meaningful participation by civil society organisations in dialogues with the Bank.

Originally intended to facilitate discussion on “common themes and priorities,” this seminar has increasingly become a promotional event, reducing CSOs to passive bystanders and lacking the space and depth necessary for substantive dialogue. The 2024 edition, titled “Overcoming the Barriers to Achieving a Safe and Sustainable Future,” was hastily announced with only a month's notice, providing no opportunity for open discussion on the agenda or relevant topics.

These concerns come in the wake of unresolved issues from civil society regarding the Bank’s plans to increase lending and the recent approval of its Strategic Roadmap 2024–2027, a strategy developed without adequate consultation with civil society.

Frank Vanaerschot, Director of Counter Balance, voiced strong criticism:

“This seminar is yet another superficial exercise that sidelines civil society when bold, inclusive action is urgently needed. The EIB must transform into an institution that genuinely prioritises the public interest, steering our economies toward a fair, equitable, and sustainable future.

As the Bank's role in shaping EU policy expands, stronger democratic accountability is essential. The European Parliament, national parliaments, labour unions, local governments, and civil society must all be actively integrated into the Bank’s decision-making processes, in line with the EU’s partnership principle from the Cohesion Policy.”

With its increased lending capacity and more central role in policy-making, the EIB has a significant opportunity to deliver a lasting positive impact for the communities it is meant to serve as a public institution. However, civil society organisations are alarmed by the Bank's current priorities. However, civil society organisations are alarmed by the Bank's current priorities. They urge the EIB to broaden its environmental strategy to address all planetary boundaries and prioritise green public services while distancing itself from profit-driven public-private partnerships and large polluters. CSOs also oppose the expansion of concessional lending to the defence sector and caution that the EIB's increasing focus on private investment could undermine its mission, transforming it into a tool for EU economic diplomacy.