THE "EUROPEAN FUNDS" CONFERENCE - 6TH EDITION / SILVIA CORNEI, FNGCIMM:  "We need new financial resources for the co-financing of projects"

New financial resources for the co-financing of projects, such as loans, loan collaterals or risk capital are needed, says Silvia Ciornei, the president of the National Fund for the Guarantee of Loans for Small and Medium Enterprises (FNGCIMM). "I think that after a period of crisis during which companies have been decapitalized, lending has shrunk and the resources of the public budget have been depleted, new financing sources are needed for the projects executed through EU funds".

According to Silvia Ciornei, action is being taken towards that goal, as these types of lending are beginning to appear on our market as well. In that regard, the FNGCIMM has proposals both on the POSCCE side, as well as on the POR and on the new scheme for the financing of the Big Infrastructure.

"We are working with the EBRD to implement a scheme for the financing and guarantee of energy projects, with a view of creating an integrated system that would allow the implementation of projects of energy efficiency for public buildings and homes", Mrs. Ciornei said.

The harmonization of the eligibility criteria of the projects financed using European funds with the lending requirements is a must for the 2014-2020 multi-annual financial framework, she says. Among other "lessons learned" from the still ongoing b multi-annual financial framework, are the need for financing working capital, as well as the existence of new financial resources. Also, European funds such as grants could be managed by lenders.