FI Campus 2018 ‘What next for ESIF financial instruments? Creating new opportunities under the Omnibus Regulation’ took place on 3-5 December 2018 in Brussels. Innova-FI partners were present in this flagship fi-compass event that had a comprehensive programme covering presentations about ESIF/EFSI combination and further opportunities offered by the Omnibus Regulation, case studies, workshops, discussion panels and fund-specific sessions.
Over 360 practitioners from 24 Member States attended the event, which was opened by Eric von Breska, the Director of the Policy Directorate at the European Commission (DG REGIO) and Simon Barnes, Head of Advisory Services at the European Investment Bank. FI Campus 2018 brought together practitioners to share their ‘on the ground’ experience and included showcasing several examples where financial instruments and investment platforms have combined European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) resources with the European Fund for Strategic Investments.
During the event, the European Commission presented a preview of the latest data on the use of ESIF financial instruments under Cohesion policy. The latest statistics show how ESI funds committed to financial instruments increased by approximately 38% in the year 2017 to around EUR 14.2bn. As a result, the amounts committed by the end of 2017 already far exceed the total amount of ESI funds resources committed to financial instruments in the previous period (2007-2013).
The continued growth of financial instruments, which is being seen in all areas of Cohesion policy, including social and agricultural sectors, is expected to remain an important feature of the post 2020 Multiannual Financial Framework. In order to support the anticipated further growth of these ESI funded financial instruments, the European Commission highlighted at the event the scope for further technical assistance initiatives beyond 2020.
A special FI Campus session was organised to update our stakeholder stocktaking survey and help support the European Commission’s design of future fi-compass activity. Findings confirmed interest among the FI Campus audience for more advice and knowledge-sharing about thematic topics as well as the specific life cycle stages of ESIF financial instruments.
Further information about FI Campus 2018 is available here www.interregeurope.eu/innova-fi/events/event/2261/fi-campus-2018/.
