This seminar-workshop examines the mixing of grant and loan funding, with guarantees. In particular, we will describe how Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund might be used alongside the EFSI instrument, the European Fund for Strategic Investment (part of the “Juncker Plan”). EFSI, working with regular EIB loans, exists to lever private funding into projects with a higher degree of risk. We also look at combining ESI Funds with the CONNECT Europe facility, and EFSI.

We will review how ESI Funds are used in the implementation of major projects, whether for infrastructure or for investments in companies. The specific rules for major projects and other large projects will be outlined and there will be a detailed description of the standard tests for major projects and other mixed-package projects.