08/03/2018 (Agence Europe) – In a speech made during a conference dedicated to the role of financial instruments in the social field on Thursday 8 March, the European Commissioner for Industry and the Internal Market, Marianne Thyssen, called for an increased anchoring of financial instruments in the European Social Fund. She believes these instruments should not replace the ESF but will become increasingly necessary at a time that public budgets are under pressure and lacking in efficiency. According to the Commissioner, Europe “should do more with less” after 2020. The European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI) will become more important and social innovation should be strengthened, she argues. Thyssen also wants to support micro-finance, following the success of the EU programme for change and social innovation (EaSI). (PH)