Financial instruments in the programming period 2014-2020, 7 February 2017, Prague

The second workshop 'Financial instruments in the programming period 2014-2020' within the new fi-compass series of Member State specific events was successfully organised on 7 February 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic.

The full day workshop was attended by representatives from managing authorities, financial intermediaries and other stakeholders interested in the topic of financial instruments in the programming period 2014-2020 in the Czech Republic.

The workshop was opened by Erich Unterwurzacher, Director of Operational Efficiency and Central Europe, Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO), European Commission, and moderated by Frank Lee, Head of Decentralised Financial Instruments Advisory Division, Advisory Services, European Investment Bank (EIB).

Kateřina Neveselá, Director, EU Funds Management and Coordination Department, Ministry of Regional Development, National Coordination Authority, presented the state of play in relation to financial instruments in the Czech Republic in the programming period 2014-2020.

Practical insights from two case studies from the programming period 2014-2020 were presented during the workshop:

• JESSICA II in Lithuania: presentation by the Ministry of Finance in Lithuania (managing authority) and the European Investment Bank (Fund of Funds manager), focussing on the financial intermediary selection process;
• Energy efficiency financial instrument in Latvia: presentation by JSC “Development Finance Institution Altum” (financial intermediary), with special focus on options of combining financial instruments with grants.

Furthermore, participants had the opportunity to learn about:

• available ‘off-the-shelf’ instruments and their advantages,
• selection options for bodies implementing financial instruments,
• State aid considerations and the possible mechanisms available to support the implementation of financial instruments, and
• management verifications.

According to the participants’ feedback, the audience appreciated the presentations and peer-to-peer discussions with speakers willing to share experience and bringing more clarity into the topic of financial instruments. The networking opportunities with peers and speakers were also highly valued.

This fi-compass event series will continue throughout the course of 2017 with further workshops in selected Member States.