The aim of this study is to examine and assess the impact and added value of European Structural and Investment Funds’ financial instruments on EU territorial cohesion policy.
More concretely, the objective of this activity is to receive answers to the following key policy questions:
- What added value do ESIF financial instruments produce when implemented as a complement to grant schemes and how are the benefits distributed across countries and their regions?
- Where and how are financial instruments being implemented and what are the main territory-related drivers and obstacles?
- What does the increasing shift to financial instruments imply for the objective of territorial cohesion?
- Is using financial instruments as a complement to grant schemes an effective way to implement European Structural and Investment Funds in terms of added value for territorial development?
- How are different territorial features, governance mechanisms and administrative capacities supporting or hindering the use of financial instruments in this new setting in terms of regional development?
