Olavi Petron, Deputy Secretary General for Fisheries Policy and Foreign Affairs of Estonia, explains the advantages of using financial instruments in the fisheries sector in his country.
Simon Barnes, Director of Advisory Services, European Investment Bank (EIB), explains in this video that the EIB is helping managing authorities to be able to make decisions when implementing financial instruments. Through the fi-compass initiative, the target audiences have access to the necessary information. He also talks about stabilising agricultural incomes in sectors of high volatility, through the EAFRD.
Olivier Motte, President of the CAP 3RI Fund (France, Nord Pas-de-Calais region) explains in this video how the governance of this Fund of funds is structured.
François Arbault, Head of the Public Affairs Legal Department, DG GROW, talks in this video about public procurement and competition rules applying to the selection of financial intermediaries. Instead of prescribing a specific route for the managing authorities, he talks about offering a “toolbox” of solutions.
Josefine Loriz-Hoffmann, Director, DG AGRI, European Commission, explains in this video how financial instruments are an essential tool for EU spending policies, as well as being the basis for President Juncker’s investment plan. Financial instruments also attract private financing and also provide access to finance for those who otherwise may not have such access.
Eva Rosenthal, from the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, explaines in this video how listening to other countries’ experience of implementing financial instruments was of great interest to Sweden.
Carole Mancel-Blanchard, Deputy-Head of Legal Affairs Unit, DG REGIO, European Commission, talks in this video about the clarification of rules applicable to financial instruments, according to public procurement rules and principles, as well as identifying exceptions to the rules.
Audrius Zabotka, the former INVEGA CEO, speaks of the Entrepreneurship Promotion Fund, that provided start-ups operating for less than a year with financing for growth purposes. This fund, supported by the European Social Fund, allowed the creation of new jobs and provided the final recipients with a platform for future growth. The success of the fund led the Lithuanian government to extend it to the 2014-2020 programming period.
Tautvydas Bitinas, owner of the Cat Café in Lithuania and European Social Fund (ESF) final recipient, describes how using an ESF financial instrument helped him and his business partners to access financing for setting up the café business.
Laure Blanchrad-Brunac, DG ECFIN, European Commission, talks about ESIF projects which are of a riskier and more innovative nature, particularly in the agriculture and rural development sector where there is a lot of potential, including in the domain of sustainable agriculture.
