The EIB’s Investment Survey 2024, released recently at the World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, paints a picture of the leadership of EU businesses in the green transition and the reinforcement of their supply chains in the face of heightened geopolitical risks and supply-chain disruptions.
Many firms in Europe are satisfied with their investment levels over the past three years and are committed to tackling climate change and embracing digital technologies, the survey shows. It covers a total of around 12,000 companies in all EU countries as well as a comparison sample in the United States.
While the share of EU companies expecting to increase rather than decrease investment has halved to a net balance of 7% in 2024, compared with last year, businesses in Europe continue to outpace their US counterparts and lead in investments to slash emissions that cause climate change or cope with the impact of severe weather.
The latest Investment Survey shows that 61% of EU firms have invested in tackling climate change, compared to 56% in 2023 and 53% in 2022. The green transition imposes transformation but also brings opportunities. More than a quarter of EU firms –27%– view the transition to a net-zero economy, as an opportunity over the next five years.
“The commitment of EU firms to the green and digital transitions illustrates the potential of the European economy,” said EIB President Nadia Calviño. “The survey confirms that public-private partnership is at the heart of strategic investments to sustain the competitiveness, security, and autonomy of the EU in global markets.”
