The
two days at the 10th EMN Conference in Stockholm were very
intense and productive. However, since there were many simultaneous
debates, attendants could not assist to all of them. Therefore,
several opinions are given to show a summary to the whole conference,
as well as to know which sessions were more interesting for the
assistants and what they take from each of them.
First
of all, it will be necessary to highlight the success of the two
Jasmine workshops. The first session (25th of June)
under the title “Innovative Technology services provision” was
about the European Code of Good Conduct for Microcredit Provision
(CGC). This Code is “a pilot project developed in the aftermath of
a Communication on microcredit adopted by the Commission in November
2007 and also feeds on work carried out previously on the regulation
of microcredit in Europe,” as they described during the session.
“The
adoption of the principles of the CGC will be very important in order
to access the different European programs during the next 2014-2020
period,” described Karl Dayson, from the University of Salford and
member of the Jasmine workshop in the debate, in the per-information
details.
Neoklis
Stamkos, entrepreneur from KEPA, a Business & Cultural
Development Centre (a
private company with headquarters in Thessaloniki, Greece), explained
that he fulfill his objective during this session because “we met
people that we wanted to meet.” They are trying to create an
organization and they need help with the paperwork and advice and
there was the place where they could find people who help them.
The
second session (26th
of June) had as a theme “The European Progress Microfinance
Facility Reloaded: How can it work for you?”. Progress
Microfinance was an interactive session, involving representatives
from the Commission and Evers&Jung and past- and future-
beneficiaries of the European Progress Microfinance Facility (EPMF).
Positive and negative feedback on the facility were discussed as well
as ideas and collaboration between partners.
Here,
Meagan Andrews, research assistant from ICF GHK international
company, explained that “I
thought it provided a lot of different perspectives on ways to
overcome the unique challenges for the Microfinancing industry in
Europe.” Also, other participant summarized the two workshops as
“clear, understandable, excellent introduction and very good
materials and panelist.”
In
relation to other sessions, Emmanuel Moyart, programme coordinator of
Microfinance ACP/EU, gives some feedback for the “Back to the
future...the European microfinance in 2033?” session. He explained
that “the question looked interesting but later was more
entertainment than something useful.”
