In Luxembourg, the European Investment Bank has committed €9.2 billion toward a vision of Europe that is more self-sufficient in energy, more competitive in emerging industries, and more present as a partner on the world stage. Nearly half of this sum is directed at the small and medium enterprises that quietly sustain European economic life, channeled through local banks in nine member states to reach those who rarely benefit from large-scale capital. The decision reflects a broader conviction taking shape across the continent: that strategic investment, rather than austerity or dependence, i