MDB ‘unlocks’ major gateway to EU investment funding

The Malta Development Bank (MDB) has been approved as an official implementing partner under the European Union’s InvestEU programme, the bank said Monday.

This accreditation enables MDB to begin direct discussions with the European Commission to access EU financial guarantees that will help support Maltese businesses. To be recognised as an InvestEU partner, national promotional banks must pass a strict independent audit which is conducted over a number of years, called Pillar Assessment, the bank said.

This audit examines the bank’s internal systems in areas such as financial controls and reporting, purchasing procedures, fraud prevention, data protection, policies, and good governance practices. It also includes an independent audit of the Bank’s legal, operational and financial capacity.

After completing this thorough evaluation process by the European Commission, MDB has been recognised as qualified to work directly with the EU’s InvestEU programme and is now among a select group of institutions authorised to operate with InvestEU guarantees.

This milestone will enable the Bank to: Access direct EU-backed guarantees to support projects in Malta, Focus on key EU priorities including environmental sustainability, digital innovation, and support for small and medium-sized businesses, and increase the amount of financing available to Maltese enterprises

Malta Development Bank said it can now move forward with negotiating its first guarantee agreement with the Commission, and it will achieve full implementing partner status once this agreement is signed.

Alison Micallef, Chief Executive Officer of the MDB, commented: “Becoming a direct implementing partner under InvestEU will allow us to directly channel EU resources and guarantees into projects that deliver tangible benefits for Maltese enterprises and the wider economy. We are working to complete negotiations for our first direct guarantee agreement under InvestEU, so that the MDB’s financial instruments can continue to strongly support Maltese businesses.”

Leo Brincat, Chair of the MDB, added: “This recognition firmly anchors MDB as a key national institution within Europe’s financial ecosystem. Being approved as an implementing partner under InvestEU significantly strengthens our ability to unlock investment for Malta’s sustainable and innovation-driven priorities. Most importantly, it enhances our role as a catalyst for long-term growth, resilience, and shared prosperity for our country.”