2017 saw the approval of ten new grant operations, in support of seven different projects, for a total amount of EUR 73.6 million.The large majority, i.e. nine grants worth EUR 64.2 million, went to the energy sector and one grant, for EUR 9.4 million, for a project in the transport sector.More than half of the 2017 approvals, in terms of amount (EUR 43.6 million), support the investment phase of projects. These grants are expected to leverage EUR 940.3 million of investments, which is 21.6 times the grant amount.

About European Investment BankThe European Investment Bank is the world's biggest multilateral lender. The only bank owned by and representing the interests of the EU countries, the EIB finances Europe's economic growth. Over six decades the Bank has backed start-ups like Skype and massive schemes like the Øresund Bridge linking Sweden and Denmark. Headquartered in Luxembourg, the EIB Group includes the European Investment Fund, a specialist financer of small and medium-sized enterprises.