The development of microfinance in Europe has encountered many legal and political obstacles. It is therefore important that the European Microfinance Network be strongly involved in advocacy on a wide range of issues related to microfinance, micro-enterprises, and employment.

EMN actively participates in lobbying activities through the organisation of conferences that facilitate meetings between policy makers and practitioners, the provision of strategic information to its members on EU policy, meetings with political leaders, and public responses regarding various issues.

EMN's most recent advocacy activities include:

• Consultation on the future “EU 2020” Strategy, January 2010 - download the consultation document (pdf) - download EMN response (pdf) (word)

• Summary of responses to the Public Consultation on financial inclusion : Ensuring access to a basic bank account, September 2009

• European Commission (DG Internal Market) public consultation, August 2009 : Responsible lending and borrowing in the EU - download the consultation document - download the EMN response

• European Commission public consultation "Financial Inclusion: Access to a basic bank account", April 2009 - download the consultation document - download the EMN response

• A European initiative for the development of micro-credit in support of growth and employment - Letter to the European Parliament, December 2008

• Comments in response to the DG Employment and Social Affairs consultation on integrating excluded people into to the labour market, April 2006

• Signature of the declaration of the international microfinance networks at the International NGO's conference on microfinance in Paris on June 21st 2005

• Response to the consultation document on a framework Programme for Competitiveness and Innovation from the DG Enterprise - February 2005

• Note on a "Coherent European Funding Policy for micro credit" sent to the European Commission.

• Letters to all deputies of the European Parliament after the European Microcredit Conference enclosing its conclusions.

• EMN comments on the document: “Cohesion policy in support of growth and jobs. Community Strategic Guidelines 2007 – 2013”

• Response on the consultation documents for a community support program for entrepreneurship and enterprise competitiveness (2006-2010)

• Meeting with the Irish Ministry of European Affairs M. Dick Roche, April 2004