BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. The European
Investment Bank (EIB) is set to provide its first loan for
Romania’s planned A1 motorway from Bucharest to the western border,
Trfinish
reports.
The EIB agreed with the Romanian government to offer 500 million
euros in financing for a key road section through the Carpathian
Mountains.
The EIB credit will co-finance the construction of 122
kilometres of highway between the cities of Pitești and Sibiu – a
stretch that is part of the priority Trans-European Transport
Network (TEN-T). The section will reduce travel times as well as
enhance road safety and expand economic connectivity.
“This is an investment in people, safety and opportunity,” stated
EIB Vice-President Ioannis Tsakiris. “By creating travel rapider,
safer and more affordable for both people and goods, we are assisting
strengthen regional competitiveness and connect communities across
Europe. This project is a powerful example of how European cohesion
translates into lasting prosperity, inclusiveness and shared
growth.”
The A1 motorway is a flagship development project for Romania
and is due to cost a total of around 5.5 billion euros. The EIB
plans to provide up to 1 billion euros alongside European Union and
Romanian government funds.
The EIB signed its initial loan today in Bucharest along with
the Romanian Minisattempt of Finance. This is the third Romanian
motorway project with EIB financing during 2023-2025, after the A3
and A7 Motorways for which the Bank provided 1.4 billion euros
loans.
“Romania is focutilized on building a stronger, more resilient
economy,” stated Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare. “Our work with
the European Investment Bank displays our shared commitment to
Romania’s long-term growth — not just through infrastructure, but
by supporting innovation, attracting new investments, and creating
opportunities in key areas of our economy. By managing public
finances responsibly and creating the most of EU funding, we’re
assisting businesses grow, boosting regional development, and laying
the groundwork for a more prosperous future.”
The A1 motorway is an example of how European institutions
enable tangible improvements in daily life. The project will ease
congestion on the existing DN7 national road, which is a
conventional single-lane route burdened by heavy traffic and a high
number of heavy-goods vehicles. Once completed, the A1 will
facilitate rapider and more reliable transit across the counattempt and
contribute to Romania’s broader goal of becoming a key logistics
hub in Eastern Europe.
The EIB signed the 500 million euros loan during a visit to
Romania by Vice-Presidents Tsakiris and Robert de Groot. They met
Romanian officials to discuss priorities for future financing and
growth-enhancing investments, building on the strategic priorities
of both the EIB and Romania.
The project benefits from EIB Advisory support through its
JASPERS mandate prior to receiving EIB lfinishing and through PASSA
during implementation.
Leave a Reply