The new issue of EStIF is a special issue focusing the use of financial instruments within European Structural and Investment Funds programmes.

Although these currently only account for a minority of spend under the programmes (most still being implemented mainly through grants), the role and implementation of financial instruments has been much debated over the last two programming periods. With the future shape of Cohesion policy currently under debate, financial instruments are likely to continue to play an increasing role in the implementation of Cohesion policy in future, both at shared management and EU-levels. We hope that the extensive collection of articles along with the series of interviews featured in this issue contribute to the discussion on the potential future role of financial instruments.

View all articles here: contents 2/2018.