The program concerns Micro-Enterprises (including self-employed persons), which employ fewer than 10 employees (<10) and have an annual turnover or total annual balance sheet not exceeding EUR 2 million, as per Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC.
Taking into account the restrictions in eligibility set by the EIF, undertakings should not engage in a material way in:
1. Illegal economic activity
Any production, commercial or other activity considered illegal under the laws or regulations of the host country or international agreements and covenants ("Illegal Economic Activity").
2. Production and marketing of tobacco, distilled spirit drinks and related products.
3. Production of and trade in weapons and ammunition.
Financing of production of and trade in weapons and ammunition of all kinds. This restriction does not apply insofar as the said activities are part of or ancillary to explicit policies of the European Union.
4. Casinos and equivalent enterprises.
5. Research, development or technical applications for programs related to electronic data or solutions, which
A) aim in particular at:
i. supporting any activity included in the prohibited Sectors listed above
ii. online gambling and casinos
iii. pornography, or which:
B) are intended to permit unlawful:
i. access to electronic data networks, or
ii. obtaining electronic data.
6. Support for the financing of research, development or technical applications relating to:
- human cloning for research or therapeutic purposes, and
- genetically modified organisms,
If active in these sectors, the European Investment Fund (EIF) will require, through the Bank, appropriate specific assurances regarding the scrutiny of legal, regulatory and ethical issues relating to such matters.
7. Energy generation from fossil fuels and related activities.
Specifically:
i. Extraction, processing, transport and storage of coal
ii. Oil exploration and production, refining, transport, distribution and storage
iii. Gas exploration and production, liquefaction, regasification, transport, distribution and storage
iv. Electricity generation exceeding the CO2 emission performance standard (i.e. 250 grams of CO2-equivalent per kWh), applicable to power plants and fossil fuel cogeneration, geothermal and hydroelectric installations with large tanks.