The fi-compass website showcases an increasing library of video case studies and interviews highlighting multiple ways that managing authorities have implemented financial instruments, offering insightful advice from the practitioners.

These success stories feature all ESI Funds and multiple Member States, including different objectives, implementation options and financial products. Examples from loan funds highlight support for fishing communities, energy efficiency, young farmers, social enterprises, SMEs and self-employment, and an equity fund for start-ups.

Financial instruments for young farmers, rural infrastructure and other agri-food investments are among some of the hot topics being advanced by Member States and the European Commission through fi-compass in 2019. Our activities in these European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) fields include events and studies that improve know-how and share experience around rural Europe about EAFRD financial instruments.

Nouvelle-Aquitaine has a new ESIF financial instrument that was launched in November 2018 named Alter’NA (Alternative en Nouvelle-Aquitaine). Alter’NA, which is managed by the European Investment Fund (EIF) on behalf of the managing authority, aims to help 1 500 farmers and agri-businesses to access credit financing at better terms, like discounted interest rates and reduced collateral requirements.

The European Commission, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) with the support of fi-compass are conducting a study aimed at assessing the experience of using (or not using) financial instruments financed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and exploring the potential use of financial instruments post-2020.

Discover the newly launched microsite dedicated to the Multi-region assistance (MRA)  programme under fi-compass. The aim? To facilitate a broader use of financial instruments both in terms of ESI Funds invested and their geographical or thematic scope, as well as encourage regions from different Member States to cooperate, exchange practices and mutual learning.