The first European Microcredit Conference was held the 22-23 September in Brussels, with training and workshop sessions organised by the European Microfinance Network (EMN), in partnership with the DG Enterprise and under the banner of the European Commission. 

These training and workshop sessions, launched with a plenary meeting on 21 September, gathered more than 250 participants and speakers during the three days. The programme was aimed at offering the most complete picture of the sector through seven workshops:

• Workshop 1: What is wrong with the EU environment? (presentations Wringleys Solicitors – Adie)
• Workshop 2: Client and impact assessment (presentations Adie – Enterprise Research - MFC - University of Salford)
• Workshop 3: Microfinance and banks (presentations First Step - Evers&Jung)
• Workshop 4: Non financial services (presentations Adie – Demos)
• Workshop 5: Access to EU funding (presentations Intro - Hanne Hoeck)
• Workshop 6: Recovering from a delinquency crisis (presentation - Handout)
• Workshop 7: Which microfinance development model is best for MFIs in the EU compared to Eastern Europe and Latin America? (presentations Adie - DMI)

The Conference confirmed the potential of microcredit to foster entrepreneurship. Micro-loans are particularly useful in promoting self-employment and the creation of small businesses in the services sector, where access to credit is often difficult, and in facilitating the economic reintegration of the unemployed and other excluded people. The Conference, through the Commission and key industry stake-holders, also highlighted the importance of promoting a more accessible environment in Europe for small enterprises and entrepreneurs in need of microcredit. The dissemination of good practices, the financial support of public authorities, and an appropriate legal and fiscal framework were deemed necessary to strengthen the dynamism of the sector. 

According to figures published by the Commission, in Europe more than 90% of enterprises are small companies. Moreover, there is a growing trend towards the creation of one-person self-employed businesses, particularly by unemployed individuals. Such businesses have specific financial needs: those in need of external financial resources often request funding in small amounts (loans below € 25.000). Covering the costs of issuings loans in such small quantities presents a real challenge for the financial sector.

The success of the three-day conference confirms the continuing need for expansion in the sector. By allowing practitioners to meet, exchange, and compare their experiences and impressions, EMN hopes to faciliate that growth of microcredit in Western Europe.

Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, received the participants during the conference and underlined in a speech the ability of microcrédit to help young people, the unemployed, and excluded persons in finding a place in the traditional economy and society. He also delivered remarks at the conclusion of the Conference stressing the need to improve the legal and regulatory framework for small businesses and for microcredit, and to disseminate best practicies throughout the European Union.

This represents the goal EMN and its members. 

The minutes of this first Conference are now available here.