Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
A statement issued by the European Commission in Brussels said today, Tuesday, that Triodos Bank can provide loans of up to 67 million euros to social enterprises in a number of European Union countries under the European Investment Fund (EIF) Guarantee Facility, supported by the InvestEU programme.
   The partnership with the European Investment Bank (EIF) allows Triodos Bank to provide financial support to institutions with a positive social impact that would otherwise have more difficulty accessing regular bank financing.
The guarantee system is available in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Germany. Social entrepreneurs will be able to take advantage of loans at a reduced interest rate with lower collateral requirements under the EU-backed programme. Companies interested in financing can contact their local Triodos Bank contact for more information.
The facility allows Triodos Bank to provide financing to a wide range of sectors, covering the bank's existing loan portfolio. Examples include social assistance and care services, initiatives to enable disadvantaged workers to enter the labor market, social housing, as well as support for the production of healthy food and the promotion of culture and the arts.
Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicholas Schmidt, said: “The InvestEU European Investment Program plays an important role in mobilizing investment in the social economy. Through this agreement, social enterprises in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Germany will have access to the funding they need to make a real and lasting impact in their communities. "
Jacques Menard, Chief Commercial Officer, Triodos Bank, said: Social entrepreneurship financing, in the broadest possible definition, is our core business. With the support of the EIF, we can now empower more entrepreneurs to add value to society and accelerate necessary shifts toward more prosperous lives for people on a prosperous planet.”
“This is not the first collaboration between Triodos and the EIF, and with good reason.” says Margot Falkstedt, CEO of the European Investment Fund. Social institutions in various sectors play a very important, yet often overlooked, role in our societies. They help make our economies open and fair for all. I'm glad we can continue our support of Triodos so these valuable SMEs can continue to grow."

Long term partnership

EIF and Triodos Bank already have a long-standing partnership aimed at social enterprises and the cultural and creative sector. This is the third agreement in Triodos Bank's collaboration with the EIF, for a total of €417 million in secured lending to social and cultural institutions.
Jacco Minnaar: “The success of the agreements with EIF shows that public and private partnerships can have a huge positive impact on society. We look forward to continuing our work with EIF.”
In 2018, Triodos Bank and EIF signed the first guarantee agreement for social entrepreneurship in the Netherlands under the EU's Employment and Social Innovation Programme. Triodos Bank has signed around 635 transactions under the Social Entrepreneurship Guarantee Agreement in the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain.
In 2021, EIF and Triodos Bank signed an agreement to provide financial support of up to 200 million euros for the cultural and creative sector. Since then, Triodos Bank has signed 220 transactions under this guarantee facility.
The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its central mission is to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe by helping them access financing. The EIF designs and develops venture capital and growth, guarantee and microfinance instruments specifically targeting this market segment. In this role, the EIF advances the EU's goals in supporting innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth and employment.
The European Union's InvestEU program provides long-term financing by leveraging significant private and public funds to support a sustainable economy. It helps generate additional investment in line with EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal, digital transition and support for small businesses. The InvestEU program brings all the European Union's financial instruments together under one roof, making financing investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible.