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Changes in the Microfinance sector in Europe. |
During its 5th International EMN Conference the members of the European Microfinance Network (EMN) have appointed Klaas Molenaar, general director of Triodos Facet, as President of the Board of EMN.
EMN is a European network of micro finance practitioners and aims at developing the microfinance and micro credit sector in Europe. As per September 2008, EMN has 67 members in 21 countries. EMN prime activities are (i) to support to the members in their development and growth processes, (ii) to organize practical research in support of the sector, and advocacy and lobbying to ensure that appropriate policy measures are taken at national and European level. This has for instance resulted in the launching of the EU Initiative to develop Micro Credit. This EU Initiative was announced on 10th September by the EU Commissioner for Regional Policy Mrs. Danuta Hübner.
The European Commission will allocate more than 50 Million Euro for the sector in 2008. The EMN is closely associated with the implementation of this initiative. Just shortly after this launching the State Secretary of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands, Mr. Frank Heemskerk, announced on 11 September 2008 that approximately 15 million Euro has been made available to develop the micro finance sector in the Netherlands.
[Bunnik, 16sep2008]
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