What is the InvestEU Programme?

Sustainable infrastructure

• Transport, in particular clean and sustainable transport modes, multimodal transport, road safety, renewal and maintenance of rail and road infrastructure
• Energy, in particular renewable energy, energy efficiency and building renovation projects focused on energy savings and the integration of buildings into a connected energy source, storage, digital and transport system, improving energy infrastructure interconnection levels
• Digital connectivity and access including in rural areas
• Supply and processing of raw materials, space, oceans, water, including inland waterways, waste management in line with the waste hierarchy and the circular economy
• Nature and other environment infrastructure
• Cultural heritage, tourism
• Equipment, mobile assets and deployment of innovative technologies that contribute to the environmental climate resilience or social sustainability objectives of the EU, and meet the environmental or social sustainability standards of the EU

Research, innovation and digitisation

• Research, product development and innovation activities
• Transfer of technologies and research results to the market, supporting market enablers and cooperation between enterprises
• Demonstration and deployment of innovative solutions and support to scaling up of innovative companies as well as digitisation of EU industry

SMEs

• Access to and availability of finance primarily for SMEs, including innovative ones and those operating in the cultural and creative sectors, as well as for small mid-cap companies
• Possibility of capital support to SMEs that were not in difficulty in State aid terms already at the end of 2019, but since then face significant risks due to the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic

Social investment and skills

• Microfinance
• Social enterprise finance and social economy
• Measures to promote gender equality skills, education, training and related services
• Social infrastructure (including health and educational infrastructure and social and student housing)
• Social innovation, including social impact, impact investing and social outcome contracting
• Health and long-term care
• Inclusion and accessibility
• Cultural and creative activities with a social goal
• Integration of vulnerable people, including third country nationals

All 4 areas can contain strategic investments including Important Projects of Common European Interest to support final recipients whose activities are of strategic importance to the EU, in particular in view of the green and digital transitions, of enhanced resilience and of strengthening strategic value chains.

What are its benefits

Simplified and streamlined investment support

Just one set of rules and procedures and one point of contact for advice. InvestEU makes EU funding simpler to access and more effective.

Building on the success of the European Investment Plan

By using guarantees from the EU budget to crowd in other investors, the InvestEU Fund gives an added boost to investment in the EU.

Making EU funds go further

The EU budget guarantee can help public funds go further. InvestEU is expected to mobilise at least €372 billion in additional investment between 2021-27.

Improving the investment environment in Europe

Like the Juncker Plan, InvestEU is a part of the Commission’s economic policy mix of investment, structural reforms and fiscal responsibility, as well as the Commission’s response to the Covid-19 crisis, to ensure Europe remains an attractive place for businesses to settle and thrive.