The European Investment Bank (EIB) announced it is granting a €1.2B loan to Autostrade per l’Italia (ASPI) for upgrading and modernising around 3,000KM Italian motorways. The focus is on enhancing safety and resilience against extreme weather events.
A significant portion of the funds is backed by InvestEU, a programme by the European Commission, with EIB being the primary implementing partner.
The loan includes €800M with a 15-year maturity, aligned with ASPI’s concession expiration, for network regeneration and resilience against climate events. An additional €400M supports ASPI’s ongoing modernisation plan.
EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti, says, “This operation shows the EIB’s commitment to promoting safety and environmental sustainability on the Italian motorway network, an integral part of the TEN-T core corridor. The planned work will also contribute to developing the single market and fostering the economic, social, and territorial cohesion of the European Union.”
Brief about Autostrade per l’Italia
Autostrade per l’Italia claims to be a major toll motorway concession holder, overseeing a 3,000 km road network globally. ASPI operates as an integrated mobility provider in Italy through subsidiaries like Amplia, Movyon, Tecne, Free To X, and Elgea.
With over 9,000 employees, ASPI is committed to achieving safer and more sustainable mobility as outlined in its industrial plan.
How will the funds be utilised?
The EIB’s loan will help Autostrade per l’Italia focus on environmental efforts, including promoting clean mobility, alternative energy adoption, and technology for energy savings.
It will support the installation of EV charging stations, solar panels, and LED lighting systems in ASPI’s network.
European Commissioner for the Economy, Paolo Gentiloni says, “This major investment in Italy’s transport infrastructure will make driving on our motorways safer and improve their resilience to extreme climate events, which we know are set to become ever more common.”
“I am especially pleased that through this significant injection of funding from InvestEU and the EIB, the EU is helping to support more than 13,000 jobs in Italy.”
The project aligns with the Climate Bank Roadmap and EIB’s Transport Policy, focusing on modernising the motorway network without expanding capacity. It addresses climate change challenges and directly benefits the central TEN-T corridor.
About the European Investment Bank
The EIB, owned by EU Member States, offers long-term financing for projects supporting EU policies in infrastructure, innovation, climate, environment, and SMEs. Over the past five years, the EIB Group has contributed over €58B in financing for projects in Italy.
The InvestEU programme provides long-term funding for the EU, leveraging private and public funds to support a sustainable recovery. It simplifies and enhances funding for investment projects in Europe through the InvestEU Fund, Advisory Hub, and Portal.
The €26.2B EU budget guarantee underpins the InvestEU Fund, facilitating at least €372B in additional investment by boosting risk-bearing capacity.