As we are navigating through times of high uncertainty, due to the ongoing climate crisis and different global conflicts, the number of challenges to be overcome in order to reach the European Green Deal’s goals and to guarantee a just transition have increased, as well as the pressure on small businesses.

The 2024 edition of the European Microfinance Day campaign will give the floor to EMN members and partners will be encouraged to share their experiences as actors of the social economy ecosystem and showcasing how they support local and rural communities in navigating challenges such as empowering women entrepreneurship and reducing environmental impacts through the development of inclusive finance. The objective is to look at local communities' experience to draw lessons and examples that could be replicated to other regions and countries. The campaign kicks off on October 16.

During the final event, taking place in Brussels on December 5, we will share the results of the different initiatives organised within the campaign, and we will organise a focus panel to better touch base on the above topics. Here you can find the draft agenda for the day:

9:30-10:00 Welcome coffee & registrations

10:00-10:10 Opening remarks

EMN President, Laure Coussirat-Coustére

10:10 10:45 Presentation of the Campaign results

Moderator: EMN Managing Director, Jorgos Papadakis Speakers: Campaign Participants

10:45-11:15 Morning Break

11:15-11:30 Keynote Speech by Mario Nava, Director General of DG EMPL 

11:30-13:00 Panel: "Microfinance in local communities: from inclusive entrepreneurship to affordable housing - trends and challenges"

Moderator: EMN

Speakers:

• European Commission, DG EMPL – Agnese Papadia 
• EIF – Cristina Dumitrescu 
• EIB – Eduardo Sierra Martín
• CEB – Kristina Maslauskaite 
• Practitioners:
  • Cooperative Bank of Karditsa - Panagiotis Tournavitis 
  • Erste Bank – Florian Ott 

13:00-14:30 Lunch Break

14:30-16:00 Advocacy & Research Committees

Don't miss the chance and register now HERE!