The European Investment Bank’s €1 billion lending operations to U.N. blacklisted enterprises in Israel

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has faced a complaint regarding its €1 billion lending operations to enterprises in Israel that are blacklisted by the United Nations for involvement in illegal settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The complaint, filed in June 2025 by the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), cited a July 2024 International Court of Justice finding that states must prevent trade or investment assisting the illegal situation created by Israel. Since 2022, the EIB has invested in four projects involving Bank Leumi, Electra Ltd, and Alstom Transport SA, all listed by the UN OHCHR. The HRF urged the EIB to discontinue these partnerships and align with international law. The EIB Complaints Mechanism (EIB-CM) published its conclusions in April 2026, asserting that UN resolutions do not directly affect the EU, a stance criticized for oversimplifying the EU's international legal obligations. The European Parliament and the European Ombudsman have also raised concerns about the EIB-CM's independence and how the EIB addresses projects in occupied territories.