Despite the pandemic, 2021 was an extremely rich year as far as EAFRD financial instruments are concerned.
Looking back at the 2014-2020 period, managing authorities welcomed the results of a major study conducted by fi-compass and the European Commission on financial needs in the agriculture and agri-food sectors in 24 EU Member States in 2020, which pointed out a financing gap of between EUR 20 and 47 billion for agriculture in the EU.
Performance and flexibility appeared to be the main themes in 2021. Four targeted coaching sessions were held for the Italian region Lazio, the French regions of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Normandy and Slovenia.
A new series of country specific webinars (outcome of the major study) attracted a high number of participants in Italy, France, Poland and Portugal.
“By working with DG AGRI, we aim to help EAFRD managing authorities to better plan their use of financial instruments in the 2023-2027 period for more impact on the ground”.
Miglena Dobreva and Mario Guido, EAFRD financial instruments experts for the fi-compass advisory platform.
Regarding the “Stock-taking of 2014-2020 and looking forward” annual flagship DG AGRI conference, which was held on 18 November 2021, it focused particularly on challenges and achievements in the 2014-2020 period and featured the newest EAFRD-supported guarantee instrument put in implementation in Greece alongside all innovations linked to its monitoring and reporting.
The conference also set the policy directions for the use of new financial instruments under the future CAP Strategic Plans, or the continuation of current financial instruments, in line with the recommendations issued by the European Commission and the novelties introduced in the new legal framework.
In terms of written communication, fi-compass was also very active releasing in the autumn four case studies showcasing experiences of EAFRD financial instruments implementation in Poland, Greece, Portugal, French Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, as well as an update of the Estonian EAFRD case study and one more case study in the pipeline on Croatia. In addition, 11 videos and audio communications were produced and will soon be released on the fi-compass platform.
Finally, always with an aim to continuing to meet the advisory needs of EAFRD managing authorities implementing or considering implementing financial instruments, a survey was launched in October 2021 in order to collect views and suggestions for the support to be provided under the fi-compass platform in the period 2022-2027.