The Impact Manifesto launch

Brussels, 16 April 2024 – Impact Europe – The investing for impact network (formerly EVPA), and a coalition of impact investing networks (FAIR, Foundation Netherlands Advisory Board on Impact Investing, Impact Finance Belgium, Social Impact Agenda per l’Italia, SpainNAB) launch their Impact Manifesto today, calling on MEPs, political parties and EU decision-makers to put impact at the centre of EU policies.

The upcoming European elections are taking place in a poly-crisis context. Only 15% of Sustainable Development Goals are on track, and the urgency to act against climate change and rising inequalities has never been more acute. In response, impact investors, a diverse set of actors who focus on driving measurable positive impacts for people and planet, are stepping up and mobilising resources to solve the pressing challenges of our time.

The Impact Manifesto outlines a set of concrete policy actions to enable the work of impact investors. Building a resilient European economy that fosters innovation and provides opportunities for all can only happen if EU policies allow more impact capital to be deployed and more impact actors to join the movement. The Manifesto proposes ways the EU can harness the power of impact investors to accelerate the transition to a more innovative, sustainable and inclusive economy.

The Manifesto calls for EU funding to lead by example, by ensuring all the European Union’s deployed public money is intentionally impactful. It also urges the EU to initiate a European Year of Impact in 2030 and renew its commitment to Sustainable Development Goals and green transition targets.

Impact Europe invites European political parties and MEPs to endorse the Impact Manifesto and signal their commitment to making impact investing a priority.

“Key policy initiatives for people and planet – like a just transition to a green economy – can’t happen unless impact investors step up. This is why we are calling on EU policymakers to enable the work of impact investors”, said Roberta Bosurgi, CEO of Impact Europe. “The stakes are high and now is the moment to drive transformative policies at the EU level. We are ready to work together with EU policymakers to prioritise an enabling policy framework for impact.”

Laure Wessemius-Chibrac, CEO of Foundation Netherlands Advisory Board on Impact Investing, said: “Impact investment is a powerful tool for positive change. An enabling EU policy framework would allow impact investors to boost positive social and environmental change.”

For more information and interview requests, contact:
Georgina Siklossy, Impact Europe Communications & Partnerships Manager 
Email: gsiklossy(at)impacteurope.net  

Notes to editors:
1. The Impact Manifesto and full set of actions is available here.
2. The launch is taking place in the European Parliament in Brussels on 16 April from 8.30 to 9.30 CET.