Mr Aldo Longo, Director, DG Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Recorded at: 2nd annual EU conference on EAFRD financial instruments
Price volatility in agriculture can discourage farm investments and hinder farmers’ access to affordable finance. Ultimately, it can negatively impact on the achievement of rural development policy objectives.
Financial instruments using the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) provide benefits through investments that improve agricultural competitiveness and resource efficiency, as well as strengthen the overall rural economy. The European Commission in partnership with the European Investment Bank Group provides methodological advice and awareness-raising activities about EAFRD financial instruments through the fi-compass knowledge sharing platform. This brochure provides a summary of the EAFRD advisory services that can be provided by fi-compass.
The 'Second EU fi-compass conference on financial instruments for agriculture and rural development in 2014-2020' took place on 25 November 2016. Organised by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) this flagship fi-compass conference launched a useful range of new information about financial instruments for the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The conference was very well attended by EAFRD managing authorities, national and regional authorities, financial intermediaries, as well as farm- and agriculture-related associations from all across the EU. Please read the whole story of this event and download all the seminar materials related here.
This case study, featuring the 2014-2020 European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, describes an Estonian loan fund supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the agricultural sector and wider rural economy. Using EUR 39.4 million of Estonian Rural Development Programme funds, this instrument seeks to fill a market gap in financing for rural enterprises, whose access to credit is limited by unfavourable conditions such as high interest rates, short repayment periods and high collateral requirements.
SME competitiveness is a focus of attention across the European Union. An event on 16 November in Luxembourg concentrated on how risk capital financial instruments can promote this. Experts involved in financial instrument implementation from Northern Ireland and Estonia shared their experience through presentations and vibrant question and answer sessions. This fi-compass thematic workshop included 60 delegates from 18 Member States representing managing authorities, regional and national authorities, intermediate bodies and financial intermediaries. Please read the whole story of this event and download all the seminar materials related here.
Hubert Cottogni, Deputy Director, European Investment Fund
Recorded at: Macro-regional conference on EAFRD financial instruments, Warsaw
The macro-regional conference on EAFRD financial instruments for agriculture and rural development was held on 24 October 2016 in Warsaw. It covered the financing of the EU agricultural sector supported by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and included a variety of perspectives and a wide range of speakers. Please read the whole story of this event and download all the seminar materials related here.
This guidance note applies to financial instruments using the European Structural & Investment Funds (ESIF).
The European Commission has adopted two new 'off-the-shelf' financial instruments for investments using the European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds: the Co-investment Facility and the Urban Development Fund.
