The European economy is under pressure. Growth is slowing and competitive challenges are rising, all while EU firms navigate the demands of the green transition. Coordinated support from national governments and EU institutions proved critical after the COVID-19 pandemic, helping Europe to bolster its resilience to future shocks and spurring the investment needed to transform and modernise the economy. As a result, progress was made in digitalisation, energy efficiency, decarbonisation and reinforcing supply chains. The pace of change needs to accelerate, however, even as investment becomes harder to sustain. To remain competitive, the European Union and its members need to improve productivity, encourage innovation, address skill gaps, develop new technologies and supporting young, dynamic firms. The report, which is based on the EIB Group's annual Investment Survey, provides insights on how EU firms are dealing with these pressures, and whether they are taking the necessary steps to transform their businesses. These key findings, provide a short accessible summary of the main report's messages.

This book tells one set of stories from the many that could be told about the European Investment Bank. There are six, one for each decade of the EIB story. These stories show how the EIB stood behind the key developments in Europe's economy, responding to the changes in the continent and the Union of which it is a crucial part. They are the story of how the EIB helped turn good intentions into reality.

Covering EIB Global's activities in 2023, this annual report shows how these activities are aligned with EU priorities and initiatives in different regions. It details the results and impact achieved by EIB Global's activities and provides an update on how the Bank is improving its mode of delivery, in order to enhance that impact. It is divided into four main sections: A tailored, regional approach: This section reports on the activities of EIB Global. Beginning with a special focus on Ukraine, it then covers Enlargement countries, the Neighbourhood regions, sub-Saharan Africa and finally Asia and Latin America (including Central Asia, the Pacific and the Caribbean). It examines the challenges in each region and how EIB Global is working with partners to address them in line with EU enlargement, regional and development policy. Delivering on EU priorities: This section describes how EIB Global is investing in social and economic infrastructure under the Global Gateway Initiative, helping partner countries step up climate action through both mitigation and acceleration, and expanding access to finance for entrepreneurs and small businesses to unlock job creation and growth. Two further parts focus on promoting gender equality through EIB Global operations, and how we work in fragile and conflict-affected states. Enhancing impact: This section examines the progress that EIB Global is making in achieving an improved mode of delivery under its Strategic Roadmap, in order to enhance and increase the impact it delivers. It covers key deliverables such as increasing local presence, the roll-out of advisory services and new products and initiatives, and how the Bank is learning from evaluations. Tracking results: Maximising EU impact is the ultimate goal of EIB Global. This section therefore describes how the Bank is managing for results, and reports on project results in detail, including results expected at appraisal and those achieved at project completion. It also reports on the Bank's additionality, carbon footprint and modelled impact on jobs.

A green digital economy could change the future of the Old Continent. The new Smart Europe will be based on three elements: new communication technologies, new sources of energy and new modes of mobility. But the transition will require a transformation of the continental infrastructure. Jeremy Rifkin, advisor to the European Union and main architect of the Third Industrial Revolution, has been promoting over the last few years the importance of this approach, enabling collaboration in "vast virtual and physical global networks to create a more ecologically sustainable and equitable quality of life". This is the fourth essay in the Big Ideas series created by the European Investment Bank.

The Europe Union's massive efforts to rebuild after the coronavirus pandemic present a unique opportunity to transform its economy, making it more green and digital – and ultimately more competitive. The Investment Report 2020-2021 looks at the toll the pandemic took on European firms' investment and future plans, as well as their efforts to meet the demands of climate change and the digital revolution. The report's analysis is based on a unique set of databases and data from a survey of 12 500 firms conducted in the summer of 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. While providing a snapshot of the heavy toll the pandemic took on some forms of investment, the report also offers hope by pointing out the economic areas in which Europe remains strong, such as technologies that combine green and digital innovation.

Internet is a real place. Every time we switch on our computers, use a program or an application, or log in to a social media site, we enter a virtual space made up of worlds, domains, forums and rooms. But we behave differently when we interact with technology: technology amplifies and accelerates our deeds; it can help us find useful information, benefit from a wide range of services and stay in touch with our friends, but it can also create addictive-type behaviours and subliminally manipulate us online. Mary Aiken, a cyberpsychologist specialised in the impact of technology on human behaviour, warns us about cybersecurity: "We need a human-centred approach that is mindful of how humans actually use connected things and not how the tech sector presumes or expects them to". This is the fifth essay in the Big Ideas series created by the European Investment Bank.