The third EPRC seminar on financial instruments was held at the University of Strathclyde on 2 May 2013 involving a mix of participants from the academic, policy and financial communities in Scotland. Organised by Visiting Professor Martin Hughes, the purpose of the seminar was to reflect on how the next Structural Funds programme in Scotland (in 2014-20) could maximise the use of financial instruments.
The seminar involved a presentation by Antonio Goncalves, Head of the Financial Instruments Unit in DG Regio, on the European Commission's expectations of the use of financial instruments and the regulatory changes being made to facilitate their application. A second presentation by Kat Feldinger (Structural Funds Division, Scottish Government) outlined the current Scottish Government thinking on possible objectives and options for financial instruments in Scotland.
The seminar was the third in a series of discussions on Structural Funds and financial instruments which has previously assessed experiences and lessons from past and current use of financial instruments.