Research Drug Trafficking and Border Control: UNODC World Drug Report 2014
Research Drug Trafficking and Border Control: UNODC World Drug Report 2014
Research Drug Trafficking and Border Control: UNODC World Drug Report 2014
jobs and improving the health and wellbeing of millions. The need for scaling up
renewables is now undisputed, and the full range of benefits they can bring has
come to the fore in global discussions. As countries consider options at their
disposal, understanding the socio-economic benefits of the transition to a renewable
energy future is of vital importance. Renewable Energy Benefits: Measuring the
Economics provides the first global quantification of the macroeconomic impacts of
renewable energy deployment. It finds that doubling the share of renewables by
2030 would bring a range of positive impacts including an increase in global gross
domestic product (GDP) up to 1.1 percent, improvement of global welfare by 3.7
percent and over 24 million people working in the renewable energy sector. This
report provides the latest evidence that mitigating climate change through the
deployment of renewable energy and achieving other socio-economic objectives are
mutually beneficial. Thanks to the growing business case for renewable energy, an
investment in one is an investment in both. A full understanding of these benefits
can tip the balance towards low-carbon investments and future-proof our energy
system.
Multinationals vs Start-ups
Supporting entrepreneurs and the self-employed - Microfinance
Micro-enterprises are enterprises employing fewer than 10 people and which have an annual
turnover or annual balance sheet total or maximum EUR 2 million. They represent over 90%
of European enterprises and are thus decisive for boosting jobs, growth and investment
in Europe.
Lack of access to finance is one of the main obstacles micro-enterprises face. Microfinance,
which includes guarantees, microcredit, equity and quasi-equity extended to persons and microenterprises that experience difficulties accessing credit, can help overcome it. Microcredit is a
loan of up to EUR 25 000.
If you are a micro-entrepreneur and would like to apply for a micro loan find more information
about EU microfinance support.
Access to finance
In particular for vulnerable groups with a difficult access to the conventional credit market and
for start-ups as well as existing micro-enterprises, a significant unmet demand for
microfinance exists. Therefore, the Commission is helping entrepreneurs access financing by
supporting microcredit providers through
funded instruments from the European Progress Microfinance Facility and
guarantees under the Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) programme
The Commission also supports microfinance via the European Social Fund.
Creating a sustainable microfinance ecosystem
Microcredit providers play an important role in channeling the EU support to entrepreneurs.
However, bottlenecks at the level of microcredit providers may make it difficult for entrepreneurs
to effectively access funding and benefit from the EU funding. In order to overcome these,
the Commission established the EaSI Technical Assistance through which it:
provides to microcredit providers an institutional assessment or a microfinance
institutional rating
offers targeted capacity building through tailored trainings
organises workshops, seminars and exchange visits between microcredit providers