What's new in fi-compass
Our latest publications, case studies, videos and podcasts
New factsheets on financial instruments products
The fi-compass factsheets on financial instruments products are essential resources for practitioners. They provide key insights into loans, guarantees, and equity instruments, highlighting their features and successful applications across the EU. These factsheets help managing authorities and stakeholders implement financial instruments effectively, offering best practices and additional resources for further information.
ERDF loan financial instruments
Loan financial instruments offer efficient public support, especially when lending banks face liquidity issues. Loan financial instruments provide a flexible financing solution tailored by managing authorities to meet local sectoral needs and achieve public policy goals.
ERDF guarantee financial instruments
Guarantee financial instruments, by providing loss protection to the banks in case of loan defaults, improve the banks' lending capacity and appetite for riskier projects. In case of default of a loan, the guarantee can significantly reduce the loss to be borne by the bodies providing the underlying loans (i.e. lending banks).
Financial instruments for a younger and modern agricultural sector
Discover the stories of several SMEs in Spain who achieved their dreams with the help of the EAFRD guarantee. This financial instrument provided them with quick and easy access to flexible financing, enabling them to cover a wide range of assets, from improving water consumption to updating machinery. With this support, these businesses were able to thrive and grow, showcasing the impact of strategic investment in their success and the subsequent advantages for the local regions.
Combining ESF+ financial instruments with grants
This factsheet describes how ESF+ financial instruments can be combined with grants. By combining grants with financial instruments, managing authorities can address market failures, stimulate investment, and create more sustainable project pipelines that align with EU policy objectives.
As social challenges can vary considerably among the typical target groups of the ESF+ support, the combination of grants and financial instruments allows for the design of flexible financial solutions tailored to final recipients’ needs and expectations and for calibration of the repayable form of support in line with expected revenues or savings.
The factsheet describes the combination options available under the applicable regulatory framework and includes illustrative case studies from several EU Member States, such as Malta, Poland, Czechia, and Italy, which showcase how these combinations can effectively support self-employment, social enterprises, and educational initiatives.
The potential for financial instruments supporting migrant integration – Part 2
Design options for financial instruments and potential combination with grants
Part 2 of this fi-compass study discusses the key recommendations for financial instruments, potentially combined with grants, to support the integration of third-country nationals (TCNs) in the EU.
The study focusses on three specific areas: microfinance, housing and social impact assessment. It is based on desktop research and a number of online and in-person exchanges with the key stakeholders in this area.
Growth & Sustainability Loan Scheme in Ireland
The Growth & Sustainability Loan Scheme (GSLS) features a national counter-guarantee facility launched in 2022 by the Government of Ireland targeting SMEs, Small Mid-Caps, farmers, and fishers with the objective to bridge the gap in longer-term, affordable finance that many enterprises face in Ireland.
The European Investment Fund has been entrusted as the body implementing the financial instrument, which provides a counter-guarantee to the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) – the national promotional bank of Ireland acting as financial intermediary. SBCI, in turn, guarantees five on-lenders , selected via an open call for expression of interest.
Alongside the Irish Government as junior/first loss risk taker (with just over EUR 73 million contribution from the national budget), the EIB Group covers the more senior risk tranches of the portfolio counter-guarantee for a total exposure of almost EUR 250 million. Combined with commercial bank financing, the scheme will make a total of EUR 500 million available to eligible Irish businesses, with a specific target of at least 30% for investments in climate action and environmental sustainability.
Dive into the fi-compass holiday countdown!
The holiday season is just around the corner, and we’re excited to continue our festive calendar tradition at fi-compass. This December, join us as we celebrate the end of an extraordinary year!
Starting on 1 December until the 25 December, we’ll be unveiling something special each day behind a new door on our festive calendar. But don't expect the usual chocolates or holiday clichés. Instead, each surprise will take you on a journey through some of the year's most memorable fi-compass moments, with highlights, achievements, and insights from across the EU.
It’s time to unwrap knowledge, revisit key milestones, and discover new resources to take with you into the new year. Ready to join the festivities? It’s simple! Just click and start counting down the days with us.
New to financial instruments?
The fi-compass page "New to financial instruments?" is a helpful resource for those new to EU shared management financial instruments. It explains how these instruments work, their benefits, and the regulations governing them. The page highlights the revolving effect, leverage effect, and high impact of financial instruments, making it easier for practitioners to understand and implement them effectively. It also provides practical tools, learning opportunities, and additional resources to build up knowledge in this area.