Romania signs second €500 million EIB loan for Sibiu-Pitești highway

Business Forum

15 January, 2026 at 6:58 PM

Romania's Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare has signed a second €500 million financing contract with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the Sibiu-Pitești highway project.

This brings total EIB support for the infrastructure project to €1 billion.

The A1 Sibiu-Pitești highway will be the first motorway to cross the Carpathian Mountains, spanning 122 kilometres and connecting the two Romanian cities. The project is part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and is structured in five sections.

"Signing a new financing contract with the European Investment Bank confirms the Finance Ministry's commitment to securing necessary resources for strategic infrastructure projects," Nazare said. "The Sibiu-Pitești highway represents a major objective for Romania's connectivity and regional economic development."

The total project value is estimated at €5.5 billion, with funding from EU grants through the Transport Programme 2021-2027 and the Large Infrastructure Operational Programme 2014-2020, complemented by national contributions and EIB loans. The first €500 million EIB contract was signed in October 2025.

Construction began in 2020 and completion is scheduled for Q4 2028. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure coordinates the project, while implementation is handled by the National Road Infrastructure Administration Company (CNAIR).

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