EIB pledges more than $800 million for Morocco in 2026 as investment ties deepen

The European Investment Bank (EIB) plans to invest more than €700 million ($800 million) in Morocco this year, a commitment that comes as the North African nation secures greater financial backing from Europe for its infrastructure and climate goals.

EIB President Nadia Calviño announced the funding on Monday at the start of a three-day official visit to the country, her first since taking leadership of the Luxembourg-based institution. In an interview with Morocco’s state-owned news agency, MAP, Calviño said the bank’s lending to Morocco has tripled over the past five years.

EIB boosts Moroccan infrastructure investment volume

The new capital follows a period of EIB activity in the country. In 2025, the bank signed a record €740 million in financing for Moroccan projects through its external operations arm, EIB Global, marking its highest annual commitment to the country in over a decade.

During her trip, which runs through July 1, Calviño is scheduled to meet with Morocco’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, to review ongoing projects and map out future loans. The EIB has financed Moroccan infrastructure since 1979, pouring more than €12 billion ($13.7 billion) into major developments such as the Tanger Med port, the Ouarzazate solar complex, and the Medusa submarine fiber-optic cable.

Calviño will also finalize two new transport-sector agreements backed by European Union guarantees. Bank officials said these projects are designed to upgrade transport grids against severe weather and climate risks.

Social infrastructure funding uplifts rural education

Beyond large-scale industrial projects, the bank is focusing heavily on social infrastructure and disaster recovery. EIB funding has increasingly shifted toward rebuilding regions devastated by the September 2023 earthquake. Earlier this month, the bank released a second €500 million ($571.2 million) tranche of a larger €1 billion ($1.14 billion) recovery package.

The funding is being used to rebuild schools, roads, and hospitals to modern seismic standards, with construction work scheduled through 2030. As part of the focus on community projects, Calviño will visit a public school in Rabat to see a youth music program called “Morocco 88,” highlighting the bank’s support for rural education, particularly for girls.

Looking further out, Calviño noted that the EIB will take over the rotating presidency of the world’s major multilateral development banks in 2027. She said she plans to use that leadership position to advocate for the type of long-term economic agreements the bank has established in Rabat, describing the EU-Morocco relationship as a blueprint for cross-border investment.