European Investment Bank

The European Investment Bank stands in Luxembourg’s Kirchberg plateau, a modern business district built on a gently sloping plateau above the city. The bank’s West Building, designed by Sir Denys Lasdun in the brutalist style, was completed in 1981 and later extended in 1995. The site was purchased in 1972 after the Luxembourg government agreed to host the bank’s headquarters. The Kirchberg plateau became the first European Community institution to build its own headquarters directly. The surrounding area now hosts many European institutions and corporate offices. The EIB is the world’s largest multilateral financial institution, owned by the 27 European Union member states. It has invested over 1.1 trillion euros since 1958 and signed €86 billion in new financing in 2025. The bank focuses on climate, environment, small and medium-sized enterprises, and infrastructure projects. It issued the world’s first green bonds in 2007 and plans to invest one trillion euros in climate-related projects by 2030. The EIB raises funds on international capital markets and holds a triple-A credit rating from Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch. Visitors to the West Building see a concrete and glass structure set against the Kirchberg skyline. The plateau offers wide views over Luxembourg City and the Alzette valley. Nearby, the European Court of Justice and other EU institutions form part of the same modern ensemble. The area is easily reached by tram and bus from the city centre. The bank’s presence marks Luxembourg’s role as a key financial hub for Europe.