EIB-EFCA-FEACO Seminar on regional development programmes

Mon 29/05/2006

Guidelines & Opportunities for working with the EIB
29th May 2006, Renaissance Hotel, Brussels

The European Investment Bank, EFCA and FEACO are organising a series of seminars aimed at illustrating the policies, methods, services and financial products of the EIB Group.

Tthe first seminar on "Guidelines & Opportunities for working on EU regional development", took place at the Renaissance Hotel in Brussels on 29th May 2006, 10h00 - 16h00.

Attendance at this event was FREE. This seminar was conducted in ENGLISH.

What did participants learn?

EIB experts explained the procedures by which financing requests submitted to the EIB are appraised and processed.

Participants had the opportunity to learn about recent initiatives relevant for regional development and to actively contribute comments and questions, share experiences, and network.

Who attended?

Companies working on, or wishing to work on, projects in beneficiary countries (particularly Central & Eastern Europe)
Representatives of local and regional administrations in EU countries responsible for investment and financing of projects
Officials of institutions concerned with regional development policy
Other financing institutions

Background Information

The EIB Group provides finance to implement EU policies. Some EUR 45-50 billion are made available annually by the European Investment Bank and by the European Investment Fund, in and outside of the EU.
A significant proportion of funding is destined for investment conducive to regional development, in the assisted areas of the EU and particularly in the regions of the new EU Member States.
To improve the impact of EU policies increased cooperation among institutions is taking form in new initiatives.

Objective

To raise the quality of future projects, the EIB Group promotes better knowledge and understanding of instruments and operations by professionals involved in project design, preparation, and implementation.

With increased professional capacity, support and technical assistance, the quality and speed of investment will underpin economic growth, social development, environmental protection, technology advancement and competitiveness.

In addition, information was given on two new specific initiatives:

JASPERS (Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions): a major joint policy initiative of the EIB, European Commission (DG REGIO) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

JASPERS will assist beneficiary countries (principally the new Member States and acceding countries of the EU) to absorb EU Structural and Cohesion Funds over the next budgetary planning period 2007-2013.

JEREMIE (Joint European Resources for Micro to Medium Enterprises) will enable European Member States and Regions to use part of their structural funds to obtain a set of financial instruments that are specifically designed to support micro and small and medium enterprises.


A summary of this event is available here.

Location: Brussels