The EIB Group Forum 2026, held in the heart of Luxembourg, served as a powerful reminder that Europe is no longer taking its security, energy, or democratic values for granted. Under the theme ‘A Strong Europe in a Changing World’, a stellar lineup of speakers and an international audience explored how investment and individual action are shaping a resilient future.
In this video you’ll find:
00:00 Nadia Calviño, president of the European Investment Bank (EIB), on the EIB’s mission, European resilience, and the main levers of competitiveness.
16.40 Nikolai Coster-Waldau, actor and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador on climate optimism, the UNDP’s mission, and the strength of European unity in Greenland.
26.46 Oleksandra Matviichuk, Nobel Peace Prize winner and chair of the Center for Civil Liberties, on the resistance in Ukraine, the power of ordinary people, and reclaiming European values.
42.00 Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, ESA Astronaut from Poland, on the “European story”, space as critical infrastructure, and the Space Tech EU funding program.
Nadia Calviño, President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), describes the institution as one of the EU’s greatest success stories. By leveraging capital from Member States, the EIB transforms infrastructure, from highways and hospitals to high-risk innovative startups in the space sector. President Calviño emphasised that 2026 is the ‘year of competitiveness’ focusing on market integration and simplification to help European companies remain resilient against global shocks.
Actor and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Nikolai Coster-Waldau brought a message of hope, urging a shift away from “doom and gloom” climate communication that creates division. Through his project, An Optimist’s Guide to the Planet, he explores human innovation and the common values that connect us. He emphasised that whilst the planet will survive, our focus must remain on protecting one another through unity and solidarity.
In a deeply moving speech, Nobel laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk reminded the forum that “ordinary people can change history”. Detailing the harrowing reality of the invasion in Ukraine, she argued that the collapse of the international order was preceded by an ethical crisis. For Matviichuk, the fight for Ukraine is a fight for the very idea of freedom, asserting that “dignity is action” and that Europe must move beyond being a “consumer of democracy” to becoming its fierce protector.
Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski shared his journey as a student in Łódź to the International Space Station: a path only made possible by Poland’s EU accession and the Erasmus programme. He highlighted that space is not just for dreamers; it is “invisible, critical infrastructure” that synchronises power grids and stock markets. Through the €500 million Space Tech EU program, the EIB and ESA are now funding the next generation of European technological champions.
