EIB and Intesa Sanpaolo Launch €600 Million Italian Housing Initiative

The initiative targets regions where surging university enrolment and demographic shifts have outpaced the available housing stock. By acting as a financial intermediary, Intesa Sanpaolo’s IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division will channel EIB funds into projects that meet strict social and sustainability criteria. The financing model permits the EIB to cover up to half of a project's total cost, requiring developers to secure the remainder from other sources.

EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti emphasized that the strategy prioritizes social impact, framing secure housing as a prerequisite for local economic mobility. Mauro Micillo, head of Intesa Sanpaolo’s IMI CIB Division, noted that the collaboration aligns with the bank’s 2026–2029 Business Plan, which emphasizes credit access for vulnerable populations and third-sector organizations. This move follows a period of heavy EIB involvement in the sector, as the bank has funneled over €18 billion into European social housing over the last five years, facilitating the construction or renovation of more than 660,000 properties.