Tag Archives: Community initiative

Regions for economic change

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Regions for economic change

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Regional policy > Review and the future of regional policy

Regions for economic change

Document or Iniciative

Communication from the Commission of 8 November 2006 – Regions for economic change [COM(2006) 675 – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

The Commission is responding to the challenge to create growth and more and better jobs through the partnership for growth and jobs. This partnership has been reformed by the Community Lisbon Programme and national reform programmes (NRPs).

The Community Strategic Guidelines 2007-2013 in the field of cohesion and the guidelines for investments for urban development aim to assist the partnership for growth and jobs by defining areas of intervention where priority should be given in the programmes for cohesion policy for 2007-2013.

The programmes for cohesion policy for 2007-2013 receive 350 billion of Community support and lever a further 150 billion of investment from national public sources. This investment should help make the breakthrough in economic modernisation and increased competitiveness in the context of the partnership for growth and jobs, thus making a connection between regional economic convergence and economic modernisation.

The Regions for Economic Change initiative

From the viewpoint of the European Territorial Cooperation Objective and as part of the urban development programme, this Communication sets out the Regions for Economic Change initiative. The aim of the latter is to test out best practices which help strengthen the link between regional economic convergence and economic modernisation.

With a total budget of around 375 million, the initiative allows volunteer networks of Member States, regions and cities to test best practices for economic modernisation and increased competitiveness.

The Commission offers the volunteer networks a number of themes related to economic modernisation and the revised Lisbon strategy. In this way, those networks which so desire have the possibility of working and cooperating more closely with the Commission on these themes.

Networks participating in the initiative select development themes which interest them and pursue them through joint networks co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Thanks to the link between thematic development and the cohesion policy programmes, projects which have been tested are rapidly disseminated in the Member States.

Fast track option

There is a fast track option within the Regions For Economic Change initiative. Volunteer networks are established around the themes (linked to economic modernisation and the renewed Lisbon strategy) selected and animated by the Commission. The fast track option therefore gives the Commission the right of initiative and allows it to play an important role in the rapid dissemination of ideas for testing selected by the networks in ERDF-assisted programmes.

Communication

In order to ensure the rapid dissemination of ideas, results and best practice, it is important to introduce effective communication on the Regions For Economic Change initiative. This entails, for example, the organisation of an annual conference on regions for economic change, the launch of a new website and the introduction of annual awards for innovation.

Related Instruments

Council Decision 2006/702/EC of 6 October 2006 on Community strategic guidelines on cohesion [Official Journal L 291 of 21.10.2006].

Communication from the Commission of 5 July 2005 – Cohesion Policy in Support of Growth and Jobs – Community Strategic Guidelines, 2007-2013 [COM(2005) 299 – Not published in the Official Journal].

Growth and jobs

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Growth and jobs

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Growth and jobs

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Employment and social policy > European Strategy for Growth > Growth and jobs

Growth and jobs

“Employment and social policy” >

The aim of the Lisbon Strategy, launched in 2000, was to make Europe “the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion”. According to the mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy, the results are, at best, mixed. The gap in terms of productivity and growth between Europe and its economic partners has continued to widen, and the ageing population represents a further challenge.

The European Council has therefore decided to relaunch the Lisbon Strategy through a partnership for growth and jobs. The objective of this partnership will remain firmly anchored in sustainable development. However, in order to achieve it, Europe needs to focus on a more restricted number of priorities. Indeed, the achievement of stronger, lasting growth and the creation of more and better jobs would unblock the resources needed to realise our more general economic, social and environmental ambitions.

A new start for the Lisbon Strategy (2005)
The Community Lisbon Programme
The Community Lisbon Programme: proposal for 2008–2010
Strategic report on the renewed Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs: new cycle 2008-2010
Participation of young people with fewer opportunities

MAKING EUROPE A MORE ATTRACTIVE PLACE IN WHICH TO INVEST
In order to boost growth and employment, Europe needs to become more attractive as a place in which to invest. Given the significant contribution made by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to creating jobs and growth, Europe must first combat the obstacles to the creation of SMEs and stimulate entrepreneurship. Furthermore, in spite of the progress achieved since the launch of the Lisbon Strategy, there is still not enough available risk capital to launch young businesses, and the current tax provisions discourage the retention of profits to build up equity.

Financing SME Growth
The contribution of taxation and customs policies to the Lisbon Strategy

Ensuring open and competitive markets inside and outside Europe
Competition on the internal market stimulates productivity and innovation. European competition policy plays a key role in shaping competitive markets. It must be continued within an enlarged Europe and in certain markets which have not revealed all their potential. This involves the elimination of barriers to competition and the rechannelling of State aid into innovation, research and development, and risk capital. Outside the EU, commercial policy must ensure that European businesses have access to the markets of third countries and comply with the rules guaranteeing fair competition.

A proactive competition policy for a competitive Europe
State Aid Action Plan
A stronger partnership to deliver market access

Improving European and national legislation
Simplifying legislation helps business and in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by eliminating unnecessary administrative formalities. The European Commission and the Member States have already launched initiatives to reduce administrative costs. This would benefit European businesses in terms of the productivity and competitiveness, and increase their ability to adapt, innovate and create jobs. It would also make it easier to set up new businesses.

Fewer administrative formalities for more growth
Simplifying the regulatory environment

Expanding and improving European infrastructure
Investment in transport must respond to the economic, social and environmental needs of society. A modern infrastructure is an important factor in competitiveness when it comes to attracting businesses in that it facilitates exchanges and mobility. In addition, climate change highlights the need for more sustainable mobility. The aim of intermodality is to channel traffic into more environmentally-friendly means of transport which are safer and more energy-efficient. Alongside this, new technologies make for a more efficient transport system.

Keep Europe moving – Sustainable mobility for our continent. Mid-term review of the 2001 White Paper

KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION FOR GROWTH
Knowledge and innovation are essential for the growth of productivity. Productivity growth is a critical factor for Europe, because in the context of global competition it must contend with competitors benefiting from cheap labour and natural resources.
Increasing and improving investment in research and development

The European Research Area (ERA): new perspectives
An innovation-friendly, modern Europe
A broad-based innovation strategy for the EU
Placing taxation at the service of research and development

Facilitating innovation and the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICT)
In order for research to lead to growth, research results must be used for the purpose of innovation. More cooperation between universities and businesses makes for a better transfer of ideas in return for increased participation on the part of businesses in the financing of universities. The result is higher quality, more profitable research. The Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme supports actions which promote the use of information technologies, environmental technologies and renewable energy sources.

Challenges for the European Information Society beyond 2005

Innovation serving sustainable development
Innovation and technological development are key factors for environmentally friendly economic growth and for ensuring the sustainability of resources (particularly energy resources). The development of environmental technologies can also open up new markets, which will boost the competitiveness of businesses and create jobs.

Strategy for sustainable development
Action plan in favour of environmental technologies
Life sciences and biotechnology
Green Paper: A European strategy for sustainable, competitive and secure energy

Contributing to the creation of a strong European industrial base
The technological potential of European industry is still not being fully exploited. A common European approach to challenges in the field of research, regulation and financing can create synergies which make it possible to achieve large-scale progress and provide a more appropriate response to the needs of society. Furthermore, a financial contribution from the public sector can foster the sustainable development of specific products and services while improving European competitiveness on an international level. The Galileo project and mobile telephony are good examples of partnerships.

European industrial policy

CREATING MORE AND BETTER JOBS
Europe needs more and better jobs. Demographic change, which is exerting increased pressure in terms of employment needs, makes this an absolute necessity from an economic and social viewpoint.

Promoting solidarity between the generations
The demographic future of Europe – from challenge to opportunity
Green Paper “Confronting demographic change: a new solidarity between the generations”
Promoting young people’s full participation in education, employment and society

Attracting more people to the labour market and modernising social protection systems
The Member States are being called upon to set employment rates for 2008 and 2010 and adopt the measures to be implemented in their national reform programmes. The integrated guidelines for employment help them to select the most effective instruments. The challenge lies in attracting more people to the labour market and in keeping them there: particular attention is focused on the unemployed, young people and older workers. In this context, there is also a need to reform the pension and healthcare systems in order to ensure their viability and provide reliable social protection.

European values in a globalised world

Increasing the adaptability of workers and businesses and the flexibility of the labour markets
Rapidly changing economies need highly adaptable workers who must be capable of developing their skills to meet the needs of high-growth sectors. However, such flexibility must be accompanied by social security provision which also covers periods of change. Social security systems must be modernised in order to cope with these new challenges. In order to meet market needs more effectively, it is essential that obstacles to labour mobility be removed.

Green Paper on Modernising Labour Law
Workers’ mobility: facilitating the acquisition and preservation of supplementary pension rights

Investing more in human capital through better education and skills
Education and training play an essential role in a knowledge-based economy in that they support growth and employment by providing highly qualified and adaptable labour. They also strengthen social cohesion and active citizenship. Access for everyone to education and training should be ensured through the European area of lifelong learning, which should become a world reference by 2010.

European Job Mobility Action Plan (2007-2010)

The EU Cohesion policy for 2007-2013 and the role of the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund
The Community strategic guidelines lay down priorities for cohesion policy. These guidelines identify the fields in which cohesion policy can help to achieve the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy and of the integrated guidelines for growth and jobs. The programmes and national projects under the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund therefore target growth, employment, innovation and the knowledge-based economy, as well as the creation of physical infrastructure.

Research and innovation in support of the competitiveness of the European regions

Agenda for the Rights of the Child

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Agenda for the Rights of the Child

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Agenda for the Rights of the Child

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Human rights > Human rights in non-EU countries

Agenda for the Rights of the Child

Document or Iniciative

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 15 February 2011 – An EU Agenda for the Rights of the Child [COM(2011) 60 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

The Treaty of Lisbon makes the promotion and protection of the rights of the child one of the objectives of the European Union (EU). These rights form part of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU which encourages public authorities and private institutions to ensure that respect for the best interests of the child is treated as a key element when defining and implementing measures concerning children. In addition, all Member States have signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

The Commission Agenda for the Rights of the Child aims at ensuring that all EU policies having repercussions on children respect their rights. It defines the principles and objectives of the EU in this field and presents eleven actions that Commission will undertake in the coming years.

General principles

In accordance with the strategy for the effective implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights by the EU, the Commission must ensure respect for fundamental rights, and therefore the rights of the child, throughout the legislative procedure and during implementation of legislation.

The Commission also undertakes to work with the competent organisations in order to produce reliable, comparable and official data which will enable evidence-based policies on the rights of the child to be developed and implemented.

Lastly, the European executive undertakes to pursue and to strengthen its cooperation with stakeholders and to foster the exchange of good practices with and between the national authorities responsible for the protection and promotion of the rights of the child.

Aims

Adapting justice to children: whether they are victims, witnesses to crimes, suspects, asylum seekers or whether their parents are divorcing, children may be confronted with the judicial system for a number of reasons. The Union must give them access to justice taking into account their specific needs and their vulnerability;
Protecting the most vulnerable children: EU action must prioritise targeting those categories of children that are particularly vulnerable, such as children at risk of poverty and social exclusion, disabled children, children seeking asylum, Roma children and missing children. At another level, young Internet users are also vulnerable since they may be exposed to harmful content or become victims of cyber-bullying;
Promoting and protecting the rights of the child in the EU’s external action: the Union wishes to prioritise the promotion and protection of the rights of the child in its relations with third countries. It will focus on combating violence against children, child labour, the involvement of children in armed groups, and sexual tourism, through bilateral and multilateral cooperation, trade instruments and humanitarian aid;
Raising children’s awareness: Eurobarometer surveys show that 76 % of children interviewed are not aware that they have rights and 79 % do not know who to contact in case of need. The Union wishes to better inform children concerning their rights in order that they may participate in decisions concerning them.

Actions

The EU proposes eleven actions aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of the child, namely:

adopting a proposal for a directive aimed at strengthening the protection of vulnerable victims, particularly children;
submitting a proposal for a directive laying down specific guarantees for vulnerable suspects, particularly children;
reviewing legislation which facilitates the recognition and enforcement of decisions on parental responsibility;
promoting the Council of Europe guidelines on child-friendly justice and taking them into account when drafting civil and criminal legislation;
supporting the training of judges and other professionals in order to foster optimal participation of children in judicial systems;
improving the training of the authorities that deal with unaccompanied minors from third countries when they arrive on EU territory;
paying particular attention to children in measures that Member States may take to foster the integration of Roma;
encouraging the rapid introduction of the European hotline for missing children (116 000) and the introduction of “abduction alert” systems;
adopting measures as part of the EU Safer Internet programme against bullying, grooming, exposure to harmful content, and the other risks run by young Internet users;
implementing the EU guidelines for the promotion and protection of the rights of the child in its relations with third countries as well as its guidelines on children and armed conflict;
creating a single entry point for children on the Europa website enabling them to access information on the Union and their rights.

Related Acts

Communication from the Commission of 4 July 2006 – Towards an EU strategy on the rights of the child [COM(2006) 367 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

A new start for the Lisbon Strategy

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A new start for the Lisbon Strategy

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about A new start for the Lisbon Strategy

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Regional policy > Review and the future of regional policy

A new start for the Lisbon Strategy (2005)

A mid-term look at the Lisbon strategy shows the outcomes to be somewhat disappointing, particularly with regard to employment. In order to give the strategy some fresh momentum the Commission proposes a simplified coordination procedure and a focus on the national action plans (NAP). The emphasis is no longer on targets, of which the only one to be retained is the figure of 3% of GDP to be devoted to research and development by 2010. There is a switch of emphasis in the Communication away from the medium and long term in favour of the urgent action needed in the Member States.

Document or Iniciative

Communication to the spring European Council of 2 February 2005 entitled “Working together for growth and jobs. A new start for the Lisbon strategy”. Communication from President Barroso in agreement with Vice-President Verheugen. [COM(2005) 24 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

Taking stock five years after the launch of the Lisbon strategy, the Commission finds the results to date somewhat disappointing, and the European economy has failed to deliver the expected performance in terms of growth, productivity and employment. Job creation has slowed and there is still insufficient investment in research and development.

The Commission based its findings on the November 2004 report by the high-level group entitled “Rising to the challenge: the Lisbon strategy for growth and employment”. Requested by the March 2004 European Council, this evaluation of progress achieved with the Lisbon strategy is extremely critical: lack of political resolve and inability to complete the internal market in goods and establish the one for services. The report is also critical of a top-heavy agenda, poor coordination and irreconcilable priorities.

The Commission has therefore decided to focus attention on the action to be taken rather than targets to be attained. The date of 2010 and the objectives concerning the various rates of employment are thus no longer put forward as priorities. This Communication fits into this context as a signal for relaunching policy priorities, particularly with regard to growth and employment.

More growth

The Member States, in order to achieve this progress, must focus their efforts on the reforms agreed as part of the strategy and pursue stability-orientated macroeconomic policies and sound budgetary policies. A new partnership for growth and employment is essential in order to give a fresh start to the Lisbon strategy. Accordingly, in order to stimulate growth, the Commission intends to:

make the European Union (EU) more attractive to investors and workers by building up the internal market, improving European and national regulations, ensuring open and competitive markets within and outside Europe, and lastly by extending and improving European infrastructures;
encourage knowledge and innovation by promoting more investment in research and development, by facilitating innovation, the take-up of information and communication technologies (ICT) and the sustainable use of resources, and by helping to create a strong European industrial base.

More and better quality jobs

The Commission intends to review the European employment strategy in 2005. The Commission’s new proposal concerning the financial framework for the period 2007-2013 moreover reflects a switch of emphasis in favour of growth and employment. To create more and better jobs, the Commission intends to:

attract more people to the employment market and modernise social protection systems. The Member States and the social partners must implement policies to encourage workers to remain active and dissuade them from leaving the world of work prematurely. They must also reform the social protection system in order to achieve a better balance between security and flexibility;
improve the adaptability of the workforce and business sector, and increase the flexibility of the labour markets in order to help Europe adjust to restructuring and market changes. Simplifying the mutual recognition of qualifications will make labour mobility easier throughout Europe. The Member States should remove all restrictions in this area as quickly as possible;
invest more in human capital by improving education and skills. The Commission intends to adopt a Community lifelong learning programme. The Member States will also submit national strategies in this area in 2006.

Better governance

The Commission also stresses the need for responsibilities to be shared more clearly and more effectively. Overlapping, an excess of red tape and not enough political ownership are holding up progress. It will put forward a Lisbon action programme in order to clarify what needs to be done.

The Commission will propose simplified coordination with fewer and less complex reports. It is also proposed that the national programmes concerning the Lisbon strategy be presented in a format bringing together three coordination processes:

labour market policies (the Luxembourg process);
microeconomic and structural reforms (the Cardiff process);
macroeconomic and budgetary measures (the Cologne process).

This will enable the European Council to put forward practical guidelines every spring and make it easier for the Commission to monitor progress.

It is also planning to put forward integrated guidelines for both employment and the broad economic policy guidelines in a single document. These guidelines will thus simultaneously cover macroeconomic policies, employment and structural reforms.

The Commission is also proposing that Member States should appoint a “Mr” or “Ms Lisbon” at government level to oversee the implementation of the reforms agreed under the Lisbon strategy.

This new reporting process will provide a mechanism through which the European Council and the European Parliament can focus on key policy issues. There will henceforth be a single Lisbon report at EU and at national level on the progress made.

Related Acts

Presidency Conclusions (FR) (pdf ) of the Spring European Council in Brussels on 13/14 March 2008 [Not published in the Official Journal].

On the basis of Commission documents and in the light of the work carried out by the Council, the European Council launched the second cycle of the renewed Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs for the period 2008-2010, i.e. the Lisbon Community Programme (LCP). The European Council confirmed the integrated guidelines and the recommendations for each country. It also reaffirmed the four priority areas of the renewed Lisbon Strategy: investing in knowledge and innovation; unlocking business potential, especially of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and modernising labour markets; and developing an energy-efficient low-carbon economy. On the basis of the measures proposed by the Commission in its Communication of 11 December 2007 entitled “The renewed Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs: launching the new cycle (2008 -2010)” and the work of the European Parliament and the Council, the European Council also approved a number of specific measures to be implemented.

Presidency Conclusions of the Spring European Council in Brussels on 8/9 March 2007 [Not published in the Official Journal].

Presidency Conclusions of the Spring European Council in Brussels on 23/24 March 2006 [Not published in the Official Journal].

Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament of 20 July 2005: Common actions for growth and employment: The Community Lisbon Programme [COM(2000) 330 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Presidency Conclusions
(pdf ) of the Spring European Council in Brussels on 22/23 March 2005 concerning the mid-term review of the Lisbon strategy [Not published in the Official Journal].
The spring 2005 summit of Heads of State or Government saw the adoption of the simplified Lisbon objectives proposed on the occasion of the mid-term review. Yet the Presidency conclusions refer to nearly 100 different objectives. These objectives stress the implementation of the reforms needed for growth and employment.

Commission Communication of 20 April 2005 entitled “Mobilising the brainpower of Europe: enabling universities to make their full contribution to the Lisbon Strategy” [COM(2005) 152 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Development of micro-credit

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Development of micro-credit

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Development of micro-credit

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Enterprise > Business environment

Development of micro-credit

Document or Iniciative

Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 13 November 2007 – A European initiative for the development of micro-credit in support of growth and employment [COM(2007) 708 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

In Europe, micro-credit – i.e. loans of less than € 25 000 – is aimed at micro-enterprises (enterprises employing fewer than 10 people) and disadvantaged persons (unemployed or inactive people, those receiving social assistance, immigrants, etc.) who wish to go into self-employment but do not have access to traditional banking services.

Micro-credit can promote the transition from unemployment to self-employment and offers access to finance for persons whose projects the banks refuse to finance because of insufficient collateral. It can thus play a key role in implementing the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs.

Nevertheless, even if micro-credit has been on the increase for a number of years in the Member States of the European Union (EU), much remains to be done to enable this instrument to develop its full potential.

Therefore, the EU is proposing an initiative aimed at developing the market for micro-credit. The initiative comprises four strands:

improving the legal and institutional environment in the Member States;
further changing the climate in favour of entrepreneurship;
promoting the spread of best practices, particularly in relation to training;
providing additional financial capital for micro-credit institutions.

First strand: improving the legal and institutional environment in the Member States

The institutional framework in the Member States does not always allow micro-credit to develop in a positive way. Indeed, the specific nature of micro-credit is not generally taken into account in national or Community legislation. The Commission therefore encourages the Member States to take the measures needed to create a legal, institutional and business environment which is more conducive to the development of micro-credit. With this in mind, the Commission proposes that the Member States:

create an environment allowing the development of micro-finance institutions (MFIs) and covering all segments of the clientele. Given the number and diversity of potential clients, MFIs should have easy access to financial resources allowing them to develop micro-credit. MFIs are financed through grants and donations and, where appropriate, bank loans. They are certain to benefit from the creation of a suitable environment in which they are more visible;
help micro-credit to become sustainable by relaxing interest caps for micro-credit operations. In the Member States where they exist, interest rates should be fixed at a fairly high level in order that lending institutions can cover their costs, while regularly evaluating the social and economic impact in order not to jeopardise the security of borrowers;
reduce operating costs by applying favourable tax schemes. More favourable tax schemes (tax exemptions, tax reductions, grants) are important for the development of micro-credit;
adapt national regulation and supervision to the specificity of micro-finance. If they receive deposits, MFIs are subject to Community prudential regulation and are supervised accordingly. In order not to put a brake on the supply of micro-credit and the growth of MFIs not receiving deposits from clients, the new regulations and supervision must take account of their costs and the risks which MFIs pose.

Second strand: further changing the climate in favour of entrepreneurship

In order to encourage Europe’s shift towards an economy based on knowledge, services and new technologies, and to create a climate more conducive to entrepreneurship, the Commission proposes that the Member States:

improve the institutional framework for self-employment and micro-enterprises. Equal treatment for the self-employed and wage-earners is essential. Nevertheless, a programme of publicity and awareness-raising should be set up in order that self-employment and micro-enterprises are better recognised. To this end, legal, tax and administrative barriers should be lowered (e.g. exemption from social insurance charges, simplified registration procedures, improved access to more numerous and less expensive outlets);
increase the chances of success of new micro-enterprises through training, mentoring and business development services. The micro-enterprise environment is a complex one and demands a supply of business development services because those starting up in business do not always have all the competencies required in order to be successful. Training and mentoring are therefore needed to improve a start-up entrepreneur’s chances of success.

Third strand: promoting the spread of best practices

Promoting the spread of best practices for MFIs is a key element in the initiative to encourage micro-credit. The Commission therefore proposes to set up a new body to provide technical assistance and support the development of non-bank MFIs in the Member States. This new body would have the task of:

laying down a code of conduct for MFIs. Such a code would serve to increase confidence in MFIs and spread ethical and customer-friendly best practices among them. The quality of an MFI would thus be assessed on the basis of its social and financial performances and its business practices;
introducing a specific “micro-credit” label to create awareness among EU citizens. This label would enable the attention of investment funds dedicated to micro-credit to be focused more on MFIs which perform well, and improve citizens’ confidence in microfinance investment vehicles and steer new resources towards MFIs with the best social and financial performance;
providing information on this initiative and handling the publicity;
publishing brochures and organising conferences;
providing technical manuals, guides and software designed to help MFIs adopt best practices;
providing easier access to finance for MFIs by mobilising financial resources.

Fourth strand: providing additional financial capital for new non-bank MFIs

The Commission proposes to set up a support structure within the JEREMIE department of the EIF for the purpose of providing technical and financial support to promising non-bank MFIs. This micro-fund would have the aim of assisting MFIs to become self-sustaining and would help to increase the use of micro-credit in Europe and further develop this sector.

Context

This initiative seeks to promote the sustainable development of micro-credit in the EU and forms part of the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs, and of the policy of encouraging entrepreneurship and economic initiative, the policy of promoting “flexicurity” and the inclusion of disadvantaged persons, and the policy of developing human capital and renewing trust-based social links.

Related Acts

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 27 June 2007 – Towards Common Principles of Flexicurity: More and better jobs through flexibility and security [COM(2007) 359 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 29 June 2006 – Implementing the Community Lisbon Programme: Financing SME Growth – Adding European Value [ final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Directive 2006/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2006 relating to the taking up and pursuit of the business of credit institutions (recast) [Official Journal L 177 of 30.6.2006].

Directive 2006/49/ECof the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2006 on the capital adequacy of investment firms and credit institutions (recast) [Official Journal L 177 of 30.6.2006].