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Fiona Wishlade and Rona Michie, European Policies Research Centre, University of Strathclyde, "Challenges for the New Cohesion Policy 2014-20: an Academic and Policy Debate" 2nd joint EU Cohesion Policy conference, Riga, 4-6 February

This case study describes the successful implementation of a Romanian EAFRD financial instrument whose two guarantee schemes support farmers and rural SMEs. Using this instrument, Alexander Graffius, a young Romanian rural entrepreneur, managed to secure funding to build a modern egg-producing poultry farm that thrived when much larger Romanian egg producers were incurring losses. He obtained an EAFRD financed guarantee for 80% of a loan to start the project. Without this financial instrument his project, employing 27 workers, would not have been realised.

The BGK-managed Urban Development Fund in Pomorskie (Poland), with a budget of c.a. EUR 60m, is an European Regional Development Fund co-funded financial instrument implemented under the Pomorskie ROP 2007-2013. Financial instruments facilitating sustainable growth and renewal of region’s urban and metropolitan areas were introduced in mid-term review of the ROP implementation, beside the grant system.

This case study describes the implementation of an European Regional  Development Fund (ERDF) financial instrument from Estonia for improved energy efficiency in apartment buildings. Through a combination of loans, technical assistance and grants, associations of apartment owners received guidance and financial assistance throughout the documentation and implementation process of their energy efficiency renovations.