A hybrid technical workshop was held on Thursday 17 March 20222 at the Hotel Titania, for the Financial Instruments of the Competitiveness 2021-2027 Programme,under the NSRF 2021/27.

The term Financial Instruments is defined as the financing provided through equity and risk-sharing financing. Also by providing loans and guarantees on favourable terms, as well as other similar combinations.

The technical meeting was attended by executives of the Ministry of Development and Investments, ESA EPANEK, as well as DG Regio of the European Commission and Hellenic Development Bank. At the beginning of work, the following addressed a short greeting: the Special Secretary of ERDF & CF Mr. Georgios Zervos, Mr. Nasos Sofos, program manager European Commission, DG Regional & Urban Policy, Mr. Theodosis Sampaniotis, policy analyst, DG REGIO, European Commission and Mrs. Angeliki, Fetsi, head of EYD EPAnEK.

In particular, Mr. Zervos, after giving a brief account of the successful use of the programme's financial instruments, Competitiveness 2021/27, up to now and the significant experience gained, stressed, among other things, the role they will play in the next programming period and how they will contribute to the strengthening of businesses and the Greek economy as a whole.

Mr Sofos referred to the active support of the European Commission to the financial instruments and the importance of cohesion policy for the long-term development of Greece. Finally, Mrs. Fetsi underlined the importance of the technical meeting and the cooperation and exchange of know-how required between the institutions and executives working on the design of these tools.

In the content of the meeting, DG Regio executives described issues of critical interest to financial instruments. Important case studies were presented. Also, through questions and answers from the participants, interesting points were clarified.