24/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - Spanish companies to receive €2 billion. On Monday 22 February, the European investment fund (EIF) and the Compañía Española de Reafianzamiento (CERSA), the Industry Ministry department which helps Spanish SMEs gain access to funding, signed Spain's very first counter-guarantee agreement with the support of the European fund for strategic investment (EFSI). The EU support under the COSME programme, which assists SMEs find sources of funding, will help the CERSA leverage a loan portfolio of €1.8 billion over the next 2 years to the benefit of 20,000 Spanish companies. In addition, some €150 million in loans will be leveraged through a second InnovFin agreement. The InnovFin programme offers financial tools and advisory services to businesses engaged in research and innovation. (PH)