European Investment Advisory Hub
What is the European Investment Advisory Hub?
The European Investment Advisory Hub (EIAH, or simply the Hub or Advisory Hub) was established in June 2015 under Regulation 2015/1017. It is a joint initiative by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Commission. Both institutions contribute financially to the initiative, and the EIB is responsible for managing the Hub within the Bank. The Hub operates as a one-stop shop providing comprehensive advisory and technical support. Its aim is to offer targeted support for the identification, preparation, and development of investment projects across the EU. The Hub draws on the expertise of the European Commission, the EIB Group, national promotional banks and institutions (NPBIs), and managing authorities from the Member States.
The Hub consists of three main components:
- A single access point that ensures access to a broad range of advisory and technical assistance programmes and initiatives, delivered by high-level experts to both public and private sector recipients.
- A cooperation platform where EIAH partners and other institutions can exchange, apply, and disseminate knowledge and best practices.
- A needs assessment and fulfilment tool to strengthen or expand existing advisory services or to create new ones when necessary.
How does the Advisory Hub work?
The Hub offers services such as project development support at all stages of the project cycle (from pre-feasibility to financing), preparatory or policy advice, market studies, sector strategy development, and project screening. Financial advice is also provided to improve access to suitable funding sources. Horizontal assistance includes advice on processes and methodologies, as well as training on investment-related topics (e.g. public procurement, cost-benefit analysis, access to finance, and EU funding).
Project promoters, public authorities, and private companies can benefit from the Hub’s services and may reach out through its online contact form: http://www.eib.org/eiah/contact/index.htm. Services are free of charge for public sector project promoters, while private sector recipients may be asked to contribute financially to ensure alignment of interests and ownership of results.
| TYPE OF SUPPORT | DESCRIPTION | EXISTING PROGRAMMES | EIAH SERVICES |
| Support for projects and investment | Advisory and technical assistance to help identify investment projects, set priorities, structure and implement them | JASPERS, ELENA, EPEC, implementation support programmes | Complementary technical assistance – Additional to existing services, provided to project promoters and managing authorities to help them develop economically and technically sound projects and better utilize EU funding. The Hub continuously expands its services to meet previously unmet needs. |
| Improving use of EU funds | Consulting and capacity-building support for the implementation of European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) | FI-COMPASS platform, bilateral services for managing authorities | |
| Enhancing access to finance | Development of joint financing terms for public and private recipients | Advisory on innovation financing | |
| Access to local partner expertise | Advisory and technical support through the Hub's local network | Coordination of a national network – The Hub is also expected to coordinate a network of NPBIs and managing authorities. Acting together, Hub partners can deliver comprehensive and integrated advisory services. | |
Developing the EIAH Partner Network
Currently, the Hub operates mainly via the EIB headquarters in Luxembourg and its local offices. To ensure broad service coverage across the EU, the EIB and the European Commission work closely with national promotional banks and institutions (NPBIs) to offer advisory services at both national and regional levels.
Under the EIAH agreement, the Hub is building a local partner network. To strengthen service delivery, in 2015, the EIB and the European Commission collaborated with a core group of NPBIs and developed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize cooperation between the Hub and national promotional banks.
By signing the MoU, NPBIs confirm their intention to:
i) participate in knowledge-sharing and best-practice initiatives with the EIB and the European Commission,
ii) act as national EIAH access points for potential beneficiaries and stakeholders,
iii) explore the possibility of delivering advisory services locally on behalf of the Hub in areas not yet covered (or as a supplement to existing programmes).
As of October 2016, 18 NPBIs had signed the MoU for cooperation with the EIB under the EIAH initiative.
Additionally, the Hub seeks to collaborate with other international partners such as the EBRD and the World Bank to cover sectors currently beyond the EIB’s advisory scope.
For more information, contact the Hub at eiah@eib.org or visit www.eib.org/eiah.