The European Investment Bank Group has set up an open-air photo exhibition in Ljubljana city centre to mark the 20th anniversary of Slovenia's EU membership, displaying a number of projects funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF).

Running until 30 September, the exhibition Slovenia - 20 Years of Progress in the EU features 17 large photographs along the Ljubljanica river bank in Gallusovo Nabrežje, representing projects funded by the EIB.

Since the start of financing activities in 1977, the EIB funded 85 different projects in Slovenia amounting to a total of €7.6 billion, while the EIF provided an additional €500 million.

Coinciding with the formal opening of the exhibition on 2 September, the EIB signed a €50 million loan agreement with Slovenia's largest power distributor Elektro Ljubljana to enable grid upgrades and consolidation.

The funds will go toward a project worth €164.2 million entailing extensive upgrades and new medium- and low-voltage overhead lines, underground lines and transformers, as well as new EV charging stations, among other things.

Addressing the exhibition opening Simon Savšek, head of the EIB Group office in Slovenia, said the group was "proud to have accompanied Slovenia on its path to EU membership and to have supported a number of projects that have made a significant contribution to the country's development and prosperity".

"We have successfully worked with our partners, in particular the European Commission, to deliver key infrastructure and other projects that have paved the way for sustainable development and a better future for all," Savšek added.

EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris underlined the concrete benefits that EIB financing brings to people and businesses in Slovenia. "We are committed to continue our cooperation with the public authorities and the private sector in support of the implementation of new projects in diverse sectors boosting economic growth and wellbeing of citizens."

Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič highlighted the strong partnership between Slovenia and the EIB and expressed optimism for future cooperation also in sustainable and social infrastructure projects. "The partnership between Slovenia and the European Investment Bank has already yielded tremendous results, and I am confident that our future cooperation will be even more fruitful."