Name: Financial Instruments delivering ESI Funds, Malta, 25 January 2016
Start: 2016-01-25
Location: Malta

Abstract

The fi-compass series of advisory seminars in Member States included an event in Malta on 25 January 2016.

The seminar aimed to:

provide ministries, managing authorities and other relevant ESIF stakeholders from the public and private sectors with an opportunity to learn more about the advantages, features and suitability of financial instruments in delivering ESIF 2014-2020 objectives with a specific focus on the thematic priorities of Malta;
provide an opportunity to learn about and discuss in depth the technical challenges that the stakeholders are facing with regard to the design and set up of financial instruments;
offer support for Member States and managing authorities by introducing relevant fi-compass learning material.

The seminar in Malta featured case studies on financial instruments; the opportunities offered by the 2014-2020 regulatory framework; the advisory products issued by fi-compass to support the design and set-up of financial instruments. In addition, two hands-on oriented workshops were conducted with participants.

Programme

Overview

Picture: Hon. Ian Borg, Parliamentary Secretary, EU Funds and the EU Presidency 2017, Malta

On 25 January 2016, financial instruments delivering ESI Funds were discussed at a seminar in Malta. This seminar is a part of a series of national seminars that will have been conducted in almost all EU Member States by mid-April 2016.

Around 60 people participated in the event in Malta, including representatives from managing authorities and audit authorities, as well as from the banking and consultancy sectors.

Picture: Jonathan Vassallo, Head of Managing Authority, Ministry for European Affairs and the Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto, Malta

The opening speech was given by Hon. Ian Borg, Parliamentary Secretariat for EU funds and the 2017 Presidency. Hon. Borg spoke about the importance of small family businesses in Malta and was hopeful about the support they can receive through ESIF funds. Following the opening speech, representatives from the European Commission presented the Investment Plan for Europe along with key novelties and official guidance concerning ESIF financial instruments. This was complemented by a presentation from the European Investment Bank on how fi-compass can support Member States to advance with financial instruments.

Picture: Event participants

Afterwards, participants’ practical examples on financial instruments were presented including the Co-investment Instrument under the JEREMIE Initiative in Languedoc-Roussillon, the JESSICA Initiative in Italy, as well as an overview of the state of play for financial instruments in Malta. Participants were interested in the future of financial instruments in Malta, especially in light of the previous success of the JEREMIE initiative in the region. The delegates' discussions emphasised the potential for financial instruments to support new opportunities for job creation.

Programme

	Title	Speakers
	Opportunities offered by the 2014-20 framework	Joerg Lackenbauer and Ieva Zālīte, DG REGIO, European Commission
	fi-compass advisory support	Bruno Robino, European Investment Bank
	Financial Instruments in Malta – State of Play	Jonathan Vassallo, Head of Managing Authority, Ministry for European Affairs and the Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto, Malta
	Co-investment Instrument under the JEREMIE Initiative in Languedoc-Roussillon (FR)	Alberto Schiavone, European Investment Fund
	JESSICA initiative in Italy	Angela Murgia, European Investment Bank