A newly released fi-compass video explains how to successfully plan financial instruments that use the European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds. This new video from fi-compass provides a summary of the fi-compass publication entitled 'Developing an Action Plan'. It follows a step-by-step approach along the four main life cycle stages of a financial instrument: design, set-up, implementation, and winding-up.
Member States and regions can make use of financial instruments within 'investment platforms' that combine the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) alongside the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) and national, regional and private finance. An example of how such an investment platform can work in practice is explained by the fi-compass 'Third Industrial Revolution' case study from Northern France. This ERDF financial instrument, operating in the Nord-Pas de Calais area of the Hauts-de-France region, has now started supporting investment that contributes to Thematic Objective 4 of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) and the low carbon economy.
Implementing financial instruments requires specific knowledge. With the support of fi-compass, managing authorities of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and rural development stakeholders have a possibility to establish the necessary foundations for any future activity in this policy area.
On 14 March a fi-compass seminar took place in Brussels focused on financial instruments under Thematic Objective 3 (TO3) ‘Enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium–sized enterprises (SMEs)’. This event was organised to promote knowledge sharing between representatives of managing authorities and intermediate bodies about their experiences with designing, setting up and implementing financial instruments which support SME competitiveness.
The second workshop 'Financial instruments in the programming period 2014-2020' within the new fi-compass series of Member State specific events was successfully organised on 7 February 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic.
With a total volume of EUR 448 million, the EquiFund ESI fund-of-funds was established in Greece to support innovative high-growth small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Nine equity financial instruments were created within this fund-of-funds, providing companies, based or with a branch in Greece, with access to equity financing.
This five minute animated film has been produced to help managing authorities move forward with using the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) for revolving financial instruments. The video shows how EAFRD financial instruments can be useful for the rural economy. The video is based around a story of a typical rural area with entrepreneurs like young farmers, tourism providers, and family farms, as well as a context that could often be common for EAFRD managing authorities.
