Associate Director for Infrastructure at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Venera Vlad, speaking at the BLACK SEA TRANSPORT CORRIDORS 2026: PORTS, RAILWAYS, SHIPPING conference, presented the bank’s financial strategy, highlighting that since 1991 it has invested more than €200 billion across 7,000 projects. A distinctive feature of the EBRD’s approach is its strict policy of not financing fossil fuel transportation, with a full focus on the green transition and low-carbon solutions.
One of the most notable announcements was the mention of the SAFE Programme, with a total budget of €150 billion. For Romania, this translates into access to more than €16 billion for the modernization of roads and dual-use port infrastructure. This positions Constanța not only as a commercial hub but also as a critical center for military mobility and security on the EU’s eastern flank.
Vlad emphasized that the Port of Constanța is built on “three pillars”: support for the Ukrainian economy through Solidarity Lanes, its role as a key gateway of the Middle Corridor, and its status as a European security hub. The bank is also actively promoting the use of the InvestEU instrument, which enables private operators to access loans with maturities of up to 20 years – terms not typically available on the commercial market.
“EBRD does not finance fossil fuel transportation as a matter of principle. Our focus is on sustainable transport and digitalization. The SAFE Programme is a game-changer for Romania, providing funding for infrastructure needed to position Constanța as a logistics readiness hub.”
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