The end of investment gaps in the EU? Financial giants are charting a new course towards independence

European banks and development institutions, including Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, confirmed on Friday in Munich their commitment to improve competitiveness, eliminate investment gaps and strengthen the strategic autonomy of the EU, BGK informed.

“During the meeting, financial sector leaders emphasized the key role played by public long-term investors in mobilizing private capital and stimulating investments in line with EU priorities,” emphasized Mirosław Czekaj, president of BGK, quoted in the information.

According to BGK, the participants of the Munich conference reviewed the progress made so far and agreed on next steps in key areas. The institutions, based on the Draghi report on competitiveness and the Letta report on the single market, confirmed their intention to support deeper integration, increase investment in innovation, competences and infrastructure, and improve the business conditions for European companies.

During the meeting, an analysis was presented on the creation of a large-scale Security and Defense Infrastructure Fund supporting critical infrastructure projects in the EU. This initiative aims to stimulate the development of security and defense infrastructure funds and mobilize private capital to meet the EU's investment needs in this sector.

In the area of ​​security and defense, joint actions are intended to support additional investments necessary to strengthen Europe's security and industrial resilience, including the use of private capital to meet European investment needs in this sector. On Friday, Banco Portugues de Fomento and the German development bank of the federal state of North Rhine Westphalia – NRW Bank – started cooperation in this area.

It was agreed to develop a digital resilience index to measure digital dependencies and strengthen Europe's independence. Based on the European Commission's Affordable Housing Plan, national banks and development institutions and the EIB Group are to intensify cooperation to expand and strengthen the financing of housing programs across the EU.

As emphasized by the president of BGK, the meeting was an opportunity to present the Innovate Poland program, the first Polish initiative combining public capital (including PFR and BGK) and private capital (PZU) on a large scale. As part of it, at least PLN 4 billion will be invested through private equity and venture capital funds in approximately 250 enterprises. Innovate Poland is part of BGK's strategy for 2025-2030. It assumes greater emphasis on a dynamic, innovative and competitive economy, the bank emphasized.

“Similar solutions to Innovate Poland are being introduced by other European development banks, e.g. the German KfW. This means that our analysis and idea to increase investments in development companies turned out to be accurate,” noted Mirosław Czekaj.

The meeting in Munich was attended by the heads of the largest European national banks and development institutions: BGK, the French Caisse des Depots (CDC), the Italian Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), the German KfW, the Instituto de Credito Oficial (ICO) from Spain, and the European Investment Bank Group (EIB). The total value of financing provided by these institutions in 2025 exceeded EUR 300 billion. (PAP)

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