The programme

This was the first programme for Transnational Exchange Projects to take place into the context of an enlarged Union. This programme particularly promoted transnational cooperation and exchange and encouraged mutual learning between Member States with a view to enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of policies and programmes to combat poverty and social exclusion under the Community Action Programme to encourage cooperation between Member States to combat social exclusion.

In that specific context it was very relevant and useful to exchange ideas on how microfinance providers in the East and West have been able to respond to the needs of socially and financially excluded people (given the different context),and in particular:

  • what the different design approaches are;
  • what common practices would enhance the ability to reach more socially and financially excluded people in EU;
  • what the key constraints and opportunities are in creating a favourable policy environment enabling lifting people out of exclusion through microenterprise.

Exchange through joint collaborative working groups consisting of practitioners from the different Member States (including the new Member States), and the newly accessing countries are excellent opportunities to improve the practitioners’ own activities and as a result reach more socially and financially excluded people in the EU as well as influence the policy environment on the national and EU level.

For the new Members States and accessing countries, the entrance in the European Union has a direct impact on their economy and social environment. It is important that microfinance practitioners get a better understanding of the specific context of the European Union and how the organisations active in fighting the social and financial exclusion are responding to the various challenges they face.