Since the EU started its microfinance initiatives, more than 100 agreements have been signed with microfinance providers, to support over 100,000 micro-entrepreneurs in 23 EU member states. This cooperation between the European Investment Fund (EIF), the European Commission, and microfinance providers aims to mobilise over EUR 1 billion of microfinance loans for micro-borrowers across the EU under Progress Microfinance and the EU Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI). Target borrowers include unemployed micro-entrepreneurs, young self-employed, minority groups, women and...

Today, the European Commission published the 2016 edition of the "EU Transport Scoreboard", a benchmark which compares how Member States perform in 30 categories covering all aspects of transport. The objective of the Scoreboard is to help Member States identify areas requiring priority investment and action.  It shows how the EU further deepens the internal market in transport and promotes the shift towards low-emission mobility, two priorities of the Juncker Commission. EU Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc said "My objective is to have a high...

Nicolas Verón argues that EU banking union can only be complete if the vast amount of domestic sovereign debt held by many banks is reduced The eurozone’s banking union has moved from vision to reality in a short period of time, with the European Central Bank now an established supervisory authority for the area’s large banks. This has already made a big difference to the many national banking champions that local supervisors had been treating with kid gloves. But the banking...

Parliament backs the EU Commission case for investing in innovation, growth and job creation, pursuing socially-balanced structural reforms, and encouraging responsible public finances, in a resolution on EU economic priorities for 2017, voted on Wednesday. The text was approved by 423 votes to 210, with 48 abstentions. MEPs decide on the EU’s economic priorities for 2017 against a backdrop of large current account surpluses, low domestic investment, a lower than expected growth forecast, economic uncertainty deriving inter alia from the UK’s...

EU space programmes already deliver services that benefit millions of people. The European space industry is strong and competitive, creating jobs and business opportunities for entrepreneurs. Today's proposal for a new space policy will foster new services and promote Europe's leadership in space. Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič said: "The European Union is a key player in space policy. We want to build on that and use this leadership role strategically to create jobs and growth and deliver on our common policy...

On 17 October Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem published an op-ed article in a Dutch newspaper entitled "Why I disagree with Joseph Stiglitz". The article discusses the new book by Nobel Prize-winner Joseph Stiglitz "The Euro: How a Common Currency Threatens the Future of Europe". Dijsselbloem also joined Stiglitz on stage for a debate and Q&A session with the audience about this book on 30 September, at the John Adams Institute in Amsterdam. ________________________ Why I disagree with Joseph Stiglitz Professor and Nobel...

The UK's decision to leave the Union will already affect the EU's budget for next year. "There has already been an unforeseeable situation and now we have to deal with this problem," said Jens Geier, the MEP who will negotiate on behalf of the Parliament regarding the bulk of the EU's budget for 2017. MEPs will vote on Parliament's position in plenary on 26 October. We talked to the German S&D member about how Brexit is affecting the budget...

A first gas interconnector between Finland and Estonia will end the long lasting gas isolation of Finland and help, boosting security of supply and bringing an economic lift to the region. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the Prime Minister of Estonia Taavi Rõivas and the Prime Minister of Finland Juha Sipilä have today witnessed the signing of a €187 million investment in the Balticconnector – the first gas pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia. This gas interconnector will end the energy...