fi-compass Jam Sessions

Ep. 25: ERDF renewable energy loans in Pomorskie, Poland

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:39:51 GMT

A discussion with Kornelia Milczarek, Marshal’s Office of the Pomeranian Voivodeship (the managing authority for the regional ERDF programme in Pomorskie), Joanna Protasiewicz, Pomorskie Loan Fund (Pomorski Fundusz Pożyczkowy, PFP), Ewelina Żaguń, Pomorskie Development Fund (Pomorski Fundusz Rozwoju) and Andrzej Urbanik, Policy Officer at European Commission, DG REGIO, hosted by Anna Zurek, Financial Instruments Advisor, EIB.

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Ep. 24: Showcasing impact: Winners of the 2025 FI Campus financial instruments awards

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:38:21 GMT

A discussion with Iva Petkova, Melvin Könings, Abel Mascarenhas and Jörg Lackenbauer, hosted by Nathalie Van Neck, DG REGIO.

Winners of the 2025 FI Campus Showcase Awards, highlighting impactful EU shared management financial instruments from Bulgaria, Portugal, and the Netherlands.

Through discussions with award recipients and DG REGIO representatives, it illustrates how innovation, collaboration, and urban development funds are driving sustainable growth, leverage, and future investment priorities across Europe.

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Ep. 23: 10 years of fi-compass insights – Live at FI Campus 2025

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 14:46:15 GMT

Main topics: The panel marked fi-compass’s 10th anniversary by reflecting on its impact and highlighting how its publications, knowledge hubs, case studies, and networking have supported the design and implementation of financial instruments. Participants shared future plans focused on green, digital, SME, urban, and innovation financing, with examples like the use of reflows, underscoring collaboration, adaptability, and the growing role of financial instruments in sustainable development across Europe.

This podcast was filmed live during FI Campus with expert speakers: Cecilia Gyalog, Head of EU Strategy and International Relations at MFB in Hungary; Inga Beiliūnienė, Head of International Relations at the National Promotional Bank in Lithuania; Iva Petkova, Director of the FLAG Fund and the Sustainable Cities Fund in Bulgaria; and Grzegorz Orawiec, Director in the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy in Poland.

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Ep. 22: ERDF financial instruments for innovation

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 08:07:00 GMT

A discussion with Sara Dagostini from DG REGIO and Thomas Hüttich from Investitionsbank, hosted by Caterina Pieretto, European Investment Bank.

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Ep. 21: ERDF loan, equity and guarantee financial instruments

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 07:24:12 GMT

A discussion with Aleksi Aho, Stela Vulpe, and Nathalie Van Neck from DG REGIO, hosted by Caterina Pieretto, European Investment Bank.

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Ep. 20: New to financial instruments?

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 08:26:16 GMT

A discussion with Iveta Ivánová, Andrzej Urbanik, and Nathalie Van Neck from DG Regio, hosted by Francisca de Novais e Silva, European Investment Bank.

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Ep. 19: “Ask Me Anything” – Live at FI Campus 2024

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 11:08:21 GMT

Main topics: combinations of grants and financial instruments, audit methodology, smart growth and sustainable finance, energy efficiency in housing, and horizontal selection criteria in the implementation of financial instruments.

This podcast was filmed live during FI Campus with expert speakers responding to questions from a live audience: Jonathan Denness, Head of Financial Instruments and International Financial Institutions Relations Unit, DG REGIO, Oana Dordain, Deputy Head of Financial Instruments and International Financial Relations Unit, DG REGIO, Emily Smith, Head of Climate and Urban Unit, EIB, Frank Lee, Head of Financial Intermediary Advisory Division, EIB, and Desmond Gardner, Financial Instruments Advisor, EIB.

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Ep. 18: Ready for FI Campus?

Wed, 22 May 2024 14:44:29 GMT

A discussion with Jonathan Denness, Head of Unit in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, hosted by Frank Lee from the fi-compass team at EIB.

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Ep. 17: New Audit Methodology for financial instruments in the 2021-2027 programming period

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 14:43:29 GMT

A discussion with Dana Greceanu, External Audit and Senior Expert on Financial Instruments from the Common Audit Service at the European Commission and Iva Medugorac from the Head of Department for the Design of Financial Instruments from the Croatian ERDF Managing Authority, the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds, hosted by Desmond Gardner, European Investment Bank.

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Ep. 16: Equity instruments under the European Regional Development Fund, the ERDF

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 10:18:39 GMT

A discussion with Vivi Papasouli, Mandate Manager at the EIF and Henrik Storm Dyrssen, Project Manager for financial instruments in the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, hosted by Anna Zurek, European Investment Bank.

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Ep. 15: Financing RePowerEU: shared management financial instruments combined with grants

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 14:44:45 GMT

A discussion with Kristina Vaskelienė, INVEGA, Lithuania and Aleksejs Kaņējevs, ALTUM, Latvia, hosted by Robert Pernetta, Holding Fund Manager, European Investment Bank.

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Ep. 14: Quasi-equity finance – a new ERDF model financial instrument

Thu, 04 May 2023 13:34:40 GMT

Main topics: Experts from the DG REGIO and IBB Ventures answer your questions about the quasi-equity model financial instrument.

A discussion with Sara Dagostini, policy officer at the European Commission’s DG REGIO and Markus Lehmann, finance director at IBB Ventures, hosted by Anna Zurek, from the fi-compass team at EIB.

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Ep. 13: EaSI Business Development Services pilot supports migrant and refugee entrepreneurs

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 14:22:54 GMT

Main topics: A discussion on the EaSI Business Development Services pilot and how financial instruments can be used to support the integration of third-country nationals using resources under the Asylum, Integration and Migration Fund (AMIF), or co-financed with other resources

A discussion with Cristina Dumitrescu, Senior Investment Manager in the Inclusive Finance Division at the European Investment Fund, hosted by Bruno Robino, Head of fi-compass at the European Investment Bank.

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Ep. 12: Financial instruments in changing times

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 10:20:05 GMT

Main topics: Experts from the European Commission and the European Investment Bank join Jacki Davis, moderator at the FI Campus 2023 event, for an informal discussion on financial instruments in changing times.

A discussion with Jonathan Denness, Head of Financial Instruments and International Financial Institutions Relations Unit in the European Commission's DG REGIO, Oana Dordain, Deputy Head of Financial Instruments and International Financial Institutions Relations Unit in the European Commission's DG REGIO, Frank Lee, Head of the Climate and Social Advisory Division at the EIB and Emily Smith, Head of Unit for Climate and Urban at the EIB.

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Ep. 11: The New European Bauhaus Model Territorial Development financial instrument

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 11:41:01 GMT

The New European Bauhaus is guided by three core values, which are sustainability, aesthics and inclusion. When we speak about sustainablility, we speak about investing in energy efficiency measures or focusing of cirularity or biodiversity. Aesthics focuses on the quality of experience and style beyond functionality. Inclusion is all about promoting and supporting actions that make the most of diversity, equality and social inclusion.

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Ep. 10: Model loan and grant financial instrument for energy efficiency

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 08:39:39 GMT

Main topics: Experts from the EIB and the European Commission answer your questions from the 7 October 2022 ERDF event on model financial instrument for energy efficiency.

A discussion with Aron Kerpel-Fronius, Policy Officer at the European Commission’s DG Regio and Olivier Dumoulin, Financial Instruments Advisor at the European Investment Bank, hosted by Emily Smith from the fi-compass team at the EIB.

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Ep. 9: The implementation of an EAFRD guarantee instrument in Greece

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 15:14:46 GMT

Main topics: The experience of the EAFRD MA for Greece in implementing a guarantee instrument under the 2014-220 RDP, lessons learned and plans for the future.

A discussion with Mr. Costas Apostolopoulos, Head of Evaluation and Institutional Support Unit, Greek managing authority, hosted by Nivelin Noev, Policy Coordinator, Unit F3, DG AGRI, European Commission.

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Ep. 8: The use of financial instruments in Member States CAP Strategic Plans

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 20:40:00 GMT

Main topics: Preparations for the future CAP and role of EAFRD financial instruments in the Member States CAP Strategic Plans for achieving Green Deal objectives, generational renewal and the long-term vision for rural areas.

A discussion with Silvia Michelini, Director at European Commission’s DG AGRI (Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural development), hosted by Mario Guido from the fi-compass team at EIB.

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Ep. 8: Gli strumenti finanziari nei piani strategici della PAC degli Stati membri

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 08:43:20 GMT

Focus: preparativi per la futura PAC e ruolo degli SF FEASR nei piani strategici della PAC degli Stati membri per il raggiungimento degli obiettivi del Green Deal, il ricambio generazionale e la visione a lungo termine per le zone rurali.

Dibattito con Silvia Michelini, Direttore della DG AGRI (Direzione Generale Agricoltura e Sviluppo Rurale) della Commissione Europea, ospitata da Mario Guido del team fi-compass della BEI.

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Ep. 7: New Year, new flexibilities for financial instruments

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 13:50:01 GMT

Main topics: New flexibilities for financial instruments under the new Common Provisions Regulation (CPR)

A discussion with Jonathan Denness, Head of Unit in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, hosted by Frank Lee from the fi-compass team at EIB.

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Ep. 6: Financial needs in EU agriculture and agri-food sectors and possibilities offered by EAFRD financial instruments

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 10:41:06 GMT

Main topics: New flexibilities for EAFRD Financial instruments in post 2020 period to help addressing financing needs of EU farmers and agri-food companies.

A discussion with Michael Pielke, Head of Unit in European Commission’s DG AGRI (Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural development), hosted by Miglena Dobreva from the fi-compass team at EIB.

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Ep. 5: Equity financial instruments help technology-based SMEs grow and thrive

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 11:41:56 GMT

Main topics: ESIF financial instruments support the development of the Venture Capital / Private Equity ecosystem in Greece, supporting technology-based SMEs.

A discussion with Yannis Tsakiris Deputy Minister for Development and Investment in Greece and Bruno Robino, Head of fi-compass at the EIB.

Before you tune in to the podcast, have a look at these Equifund video case study and interviews with stakeholders in Greece.

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Ep. 4: Financial instruments help The Hague meet ambitious sustainability goals

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 08:27:06 GMT

Main topics: ESIF Financial instruments help the city of The Hague to transition to renewable energy and to regenerate its urban areas.

A discussion with Ton Overmeire – manager of The Hague’s Holding Fund, hosted by Chiara Continenza from the fi-compass team at EIB.

Before you tune in to the podcast, have a look at these five short videos on Financial Instruments in action in The Hague.

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Ep. 3: ESF financial instruments tackling COVID-19 impact in Poland

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 07:13:39 GMT

Main topics: The managing authority of the ESF National Operational Programme in Poland has put in place a swift, comprehensive response to support the social sector in addressing the challenges caused by the COVID-19 lockdown.

A discussion with Piotr Krasuski, Director of the Department of the European Social Fund, Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy, Poland, hosted by Eugenio Sabafrom the fi-compass team at EIB.

The fi-compass Factsheet – Responding to the COVID-19 crisis through financial instruments is providing more information about the Polish experience in Appendix II.

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Ep. 2: The SIH Anti-Corona Guarantee in Slovakia

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 09:37:53 GMT

Main topics: the SIH Anti-Corona Guarantee, the first ESIF financial instrument in the country to help SMEs overcome the financial difficulties caused by the COVID-19 crisis and help preserve jobs.

**A discussion with Ivan Lesay, CEO of SIH and a member of the EIB Board of Directors, hosted by Fatima Tair from the fi-compass team at EIB.**

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Ep. 1: The Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative

Mon, 04 May 2020 12:39:25 GMT

Main topics: new flexibilities for ESIF financial instruments to help businesses respond to challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak.

A discussion with Axel Badrichani, Deputy Head of Unit DG REGIO, European Commission, hosted by Desmond Gardner from the fi-compass team at EIB.

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