International relations

A E C M – European Mutual Guarantee Association
Official residence: Brussels, Belgium

AECM was founded in 1992 and established under the Belgian Association Act as an International, Non Profit Association. AECM operates as an open, democratic organisation, independent of any political or financial group. AECM is now representing 34 societies or guarantee organisations, in 17 countries of the European Economic Area.

According to the association statues, the main objectives are:

  • to represent the common interest of members towards the European Institutions, such as the European Commission, the European Parliament and Council, as well as towards other multilateral bodies like the OECD, EIB, EIF, BIS, etc. 
  • to consolidate and develop the role of the guarantees as a special instrument for enhancing SMEs’ access to finance,
  • to promote the harmonisation of the legal framework and to improve the financial operating conditions of the guarantee societies,
  • to foster the exchange of information and best practices among members.

AECM works as a partner of the European Commission and its activity is supported by the DG Enterprise and Industry. Garantiqa Hitelgarancia Zrt. through the Magyar Hitelgarancia Egyesülés (Hungarian Loan Guarantee Association) was the associated member of AECM from 1996 to 2006, since May 2006 it is full member of the Association. Our company has already received significant help and support from AECM as an associated member through information exchange, product development and communication with foreign guarantee schemes. Garantiqa Hitelgarancia Zrt. delegates members to the AECM Working Groups (WG for Banking Legislation, State-aid WG, etc.), its experts regularly participate at seminars and conferences organised by AECM, and they deliver lectures in the frame of these events where they obtain a lot of important information.

Further organisations, institutions important in terms of the development, supporting and financing resources of small- and medium sized enterprises:

European Investment Bank (EIB)
Official residence: Luxembourg
Our company officially contacted EIB in February 2005. The counter-guarantee frame agreement related to the local governmental loans- and bonds was signed on 28th June 2007. Upon the full exploitation of the counter-guarantee line a new framework agreement was signed for another two years on 29 November 2010.

European Investment Fund (EIF)
Official residence: Luxembourg
We are in discussion in the frame of the Competition and Innovation Framework Programme about the establishment of a counter-guarantee agreement supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises in getting investment loans, and promoting the application of new technologies, application of new technologies, technological development and the competitiveness of new enterprises.

Cooperation with foreign guarantee organisations:

We maintain traditionally good relationship with the AWS of Austria, the German Bürgschaftsbanken, the SOCAMA of France, the CMZRB of the Czech Republic, the SPGM of Portugal and CESGAR of Spain. We established personal relationship with the co-workers of these institutions and regular information- and experience exchange is performed.

Links:
European Mutual Guarantee Association
European Investment Bank (EIB)
European Investment Fund (EIF)
European Commission DG Enterprise and Industry