EAPB and VÖB co-organize Webinar with DG GROW on financial products under InvestEU

On 15 March 2022, the European European Association of Public Banks (EAPB) and the German Association of Public Banks (VÖB) organized a webinar in cooperation with the European Commission to inform their members about the latest state of play regarding the financial products that are expected to be provided by the European Investment Fund (EIF) under InvestEU. This follows the signature on 7 March 2022 of the Guarantee and Advisory Hub Agreements between the European Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF).

The InvestEU programme is a key pillar of the European Union's largest ever stimulus package to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and help build a greener, more digital, and more resilient European economy. It can also support the European economy in addressing new challenges arising from major uncertainties linked to the global and security outlook. InvestEU consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub, and the InvestEU Portal. By providing a €26.2 billion EU budgetary guarantee to support finance and investment operations, the InvestEU programme will attract public and private financing aiming to mobilise at least €372 billion in additional investment by 2027, benefitting people and businesses across Europe. The first InvestEU projects are expected to receive an InvestEU Guarantee as soon as April, after having been presented to the Investment Committee.

InvestEU financial products are of key concern to public promotional banks, as they are key partners in the ambition to bring InvestEU to the final beneficiaries. Many of them will act as financial intermediary for the EIF, as they have over the previous programming periods. Others have chosen to become Implementing Partners, but may still consider a cooperation as a Financial intermediary with the EIF on its specific financial products.

After a presentation by Ms. Bartels, Head of Unit for Access to Finance at the European Commission’s DG GROW, EAPB and VÖB members had the opportunity of asking clarifying questions among others regarding the different financial products, the conditions as well as the sustainability criteria applicable. EAPB and VÖB also raised the question of the timeline for conclusion of the agreements with the remaining Implementing Partners.

More details about the products, eligibility criteria, etc will be available once the EIF calls will be published.