An amendment tabled by the Renew Group on 30 June 2026 would call on EU member states to amend the European Investment Bank's (EIB) exclusion list to allow financing of weapons and ammunition, directly challenging the bank's traditional role as a climate and infrastructure lender. The single amendment, proposed by MEP Anouk Van Brug on behalf of the Renew Group, targets the EIB's current restriction to dual-use technologies and would mark a significant expansion of its operational scope if adopted.
The amendment, filed as Amendment 1 to the Streit report on the financial activities of the EIB Group, would insert a new paragraph (25a) urging member states to revise the EIB's exclusion list to explicitly authorise lending for lethal defence equipment. This would repurpose the EIB to support the European defence industry, a departure from its existing policy framework that limits defence-related financing to dual-use items. The Streit report, drafted by rapporteur Joachim Streit, is scheduled for a plenary vote; the amendment is a proposal still to be examined and voted on by the full Parliament.
If adopted, the change would have major implications for the EIB's lending mandate, shifting its focus from climate and infrastructure projects toward defence. EU producers in the defence sector would gain access to EIB financing, potentially boosting production capacity and competitiveness. However, the amendment could also increase the EIB's exposure to riskier assets and raise concerns among civil society groups that oppose financing lethal equipment. EU taxpayers, as ultimate backers of the EIB, could face increased financial exposure if defence loans default. The amendment's adoption would also require unanimous support from member states to amend the EIB's statute, a politically sensitive process.
No other political groups have tabled amendments to this document, leaving the Renew Group's proposal as the sole modification to the Streit report. The plenary vote will determine whether the amendment becomes part of Parliament's position for negotiations with the Council.