EMN organised its first exchange visit 15-17 November 2004 in partnership with Adie (Association pour le Droit à l'Initiative Economique), a founding member of EMN, whose president, Maria Nowak, is also EMN president. 

During the three day programme, participants had the opportunity to discover the working methods of Adie, one of France's top microfinance organisations. There they were able to deepen their understanding of the particularities of microcredit in France as well as share their own professional experience.

The 20 participants, visiting Adie headquarters in Paris and at 9 regional offices, were able to meet clients and institutional partners, as well as participate in credit officers' work and attend credit committee meetings.

EMN members were given priority for this exchange visit, which was initially limited to a maximum of 16 people. The participants included many professionals from Eastern European countries, who were particularly interested in opportunities for expansion learned through other European microfinance institutions, as well as representatives from Norwegian, Belgian, and Spanish institutions.

Representing 13 microfinance institutions from 10 European countries, participants of this event illustrated the diversity of the European microcredit field. The institutions represented were:

• SURT (Client of Fundacio Un Sol Mon, EMN member) – Spain
• Obra Social "la Caixa" (EMN member) – Spain
• Rural Development Foundation – Poland
• Besa Foundation – Albania
• ASC Union – Albania
• CREDAL (EMN member) – Belgium
• Jobs Project – Bulgaria
• DEMOS – Croatia
• Nettverkskreditt.Norge – Norway
• Innovation Norway – Norway
• Savings House Moznosti – Republic of Macedonia
• ANOFM – Romania
• Integra Romania – Romania
• National Bank of Ukraine - Ukraine

This first exchange visit was very successful and resulted in several new membership requests. Participants gave it a very positive evaluation and expressed the desire that other such events be held in the near future.