France Active and Europe

France Active and Europe: a long history of trust and cooperation

France Active has always maintained a special relationship with Europe. Building on this historic collaboration, the network is actively engaged in implementing European policies at the local level, serving businesses and citizens. Working alongside the European Commission, the European Investment Fund, and national and regional managing authorities, France Active works to strengthen social, economic, and territorial cohesion, promote access to employment, and support the competitiveness of micro-enterprises and SMEs. 

Over the years, this cooperation has enabled France Active to enrich and diversify its support for committed entrepreneurs, who are key players in a more inclusive and sustainable economy. 

A long-standing relationship between France Active and Europe

Since the 1990s, France Active has maintained close ties with Europe, a collaboration that is financial, operational, and strategic in nature and now involves the entire network: the national association, the regional associations, and the financial companies. 

Thanks to the European Structural Funds (under direct and shared management), France Active has been able to secure bank loans for the most vulnerable entrepreneurs and the most committed enterprises. In addition, it has provided support and financing programs tailored to local challenges. For more than 20 years, the association has also served as a national intermediate body for the ESF+. 

Since 2016, France Active has strengthened its collaboration with the European Investment Fund through the COSME, EaSI, and InvestEU programs. As a national financial intermediary, this cooperation has enabled the organization to expand its guarantee and investment activities while amplifying the leverage effect for maximum impact. 

France Active and Europe: beyond the financial relationship

This partnership also extends to building strategic alliances with European networks and stakeholders.  

A member of FEBEA since 2006 and of its Board of Directors since 2020, France Active was also part of the GECES (Group of Experts on the Social Economy and Social Enterprises) at the European Commission until 2024. It regularly participates in European initiatives, such as consultations, thematic working groups, and events on solidarity-based finance and guarantees, as well as in audits and evaluations of European policies, contributing to the design of new tools. 
At the national level, France Active is a member of the High Council for the Social and Solidarity Economy (CSESS) and actively participates in the work of its “Europe and International” committee. 

“Year after year, our support for France Active’s work has a significant impact on the sustainability of the businesses it finances and on the jobs, they have been able to create. The InvestEU program—dedicated to financing SMEs and micro-enterprises and managed by the European Investment Fund—serves as a powerful catalyst for regional economic development. We also see this reflected in the strengthening of the business models of social and solidarity economy organizations and socially responsible companies, which France Active supports on a daily basis.” 

Ambroise FAYOLLE
Vice President of the European Investment Bank