European Commission Directorate General for Inte : Blending operations

Since first introduced at the beginning of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2007-2013, blending has gradually evolved into an important tool of EU external cooperation, complementing other implementation modalities. EU regional blending facilities have been established in all regions of EU external cooperation.

In the last nine years, around €2.7 billion worth of EU grants financed over 270 blended projects. The EU grant contributions have leveraged approximately €23 billion of loans by European finance institutions and regional development banks. By strategically combining EU grants with public and private financing, blending helps unlock investments with an estimated volume of €50 billion in EU partner countries.

About 60% of the EU grants allocated to blending projects supported energy and transport infrastructure initiatives; 27% was invested in social infrastructure related to access to clean water, waste treatment, housing, health, urban as well as the environment; and 13% of the grant funds supported the local private sector, notably MSMEs, in strengthening local production capacity and fostering job creation.