With the theme #StrongerTogether, the 2021-2027 Multiannual financial framework (MFF), boosted by the Next Generation EU recovery fund, provides an ambitious and comprehensive package of investment for the EU Member States. The EU budget aims to support a green and digital recovery plan, creating and supporting jobs and building a stronger and more resilient union for Europe’s future generations.
Financial instruments (including in combination with grants) remain an important tool, supporting investment under the 2021-2027 MFF in economic, social and territorial cohesion and natural resources and the environment. ERDF and ESF+ shared management resources will support investment in jobs and growth through support for research and innovation, digital transition, the European Green Deal, integrated and sustainable development and the promotion of social rights. EAFRD and EMFF investments through financial instruments will be used to strengthen the resilience of the agri-food and fisheries sectors and provide the necessary scope for crisis management.
The draft Common Provisions Regulation (COM/2018/375 final), published by the European Commission in 2018, includes at Articles 52-56 the rules governing the implementation of financial instruments. This provides a simplified, more flexible framework for the implementation of loan, guarantee and equity financial instruments, including greater scope to combine grants in a single operation to maximize the impact of the investments.
Combination of financial instruments and grant
The EU rules for the combination of grants and financial instruments in the 2021-2027 programming period have been simplified and make it easier for a grant to be combined in a single financial instrument operation. This short video shows how grants can be used to expand the reach of shared management funds to open up new markets, remove barriers for final recipients and attract private investment.
