Financial instruments : defining the rationale to trigger their use

The use of financial instruments within the EU budget is becoming more and more common. The present study first revises key concepts in determining the use of those instruments, before providing an analysis of the functioning and consistency of the ex-ante assessments, which are required by regulation to help identify the rationale and scope for financial instruments. It offers recommendations to improve the ex-ante assessment process and on the use of these instruments across the EU.