{"id":127,"date":"2018-11-28T11:48:01","date_gmt":"2018-11-28T08:48:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/?p=127"},"modified":"2019-05-30T12:31:40","modified_gmt":"2019-05-30T09:31:40","slug":"engineers-and-public-works-contractors-fund-epwcf-becomes-a-full-member-of-the-european-association-of-guarantee-institutions-aecm-pan-european-guarantee-fund","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/2018\/11\/28\/engineers-and-public-works-contractors-fund-epwcf-becomes-a-full-member-of-the-european-association-of-guarantee-institutions-aecm-pan-european-guarantee-fund\/","title":{"rendered":"Engineers and Public Works Contractors Fund (EPWCF) becomes a full member of the &#8216;European Association of Guarantee Institutions&#8217; (AECM) Pan-European Guarantee Fund"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_3_4 3_4 fusion-three-fourth fusion-column-first\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;width:75%;width:calc(75% - ( ( 4% ) * 0.75 ) );margin-right: 4%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-1 sep-underline sep-solid fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-one\" style=\"--awb-sep-color:#007ec6;\"><h1 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left\" style=\"margin:0;\"><h3>Engineers and Public Works Contractors Fund (EPWCF) becomes a full member of the &#8216;European Association of Guarantee Institutions&#8217; (AECM) Pan-European Guarantee Fund<\/h3><\/h1><\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element in-legacy-container\" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-1 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" title=\"600600p426EDNmainPhoto_Makedos_AECM\" src=\"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/05\/600600p426EDNmainPhoto_Makedos_AECM.jpg\" alt class=\"img-responsive wp-image-128\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/05\/600600p426EDNmainPhoto_Makedos_AECM-200x150.jpg 200w, https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/05\/600600p426EDNmainPhoto_Makedos_AECM-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/05\/600600p426EDNmainPhoto_Makedos_AECM.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-bottom:30px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><p class=\"edn_subTitle\"><strong>President Konstantinos Makedos: \u201cShielding our credibility. Multiplying the development potential of the technical and scientific sector in Greece.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Engineers and Public Works Contractors Fund (EPWCF) is now a full member of the European Association of Guarantee Institutions (AECM)\u00a0 after its successful evaluation and the signing of the cooperation protocol between the President of the EPWCF, Konstantinos Makedos and AECM Secretary General, Katrin Sturm, at the Agency&#8217;s offices in Brussels.<\/p>\n<p>EPWCF had submitted its candidacy to AECM on 14 May 2018 with its main objective the stimulation of small and medium-sized entrepreneurship. Following the positive recommendation of the Board of Directors, the members of the Organization unanimously accepted the membership of the Engineers and Public Works Contractors Fund (EPWCF) in its ranks, as it was confirmed that EPWCF fulfills all the necessary conditions for joining.<\/p>\n<p>AECM is a powerful and acclaimed agency, consisting of 48 members from 28 different countries. It has provided guarantees to more than 2.8 million small and medium-sized businesses since its founding in 1992. In 2017, the agency&#8217;s guarantee portfolio amounted to \u20ac125 billion, in a total of \u20ac3.1 million letters of guarantee.<\/p>\n<p>As a member, EPWCF has the ability to exchange best practices at international level, continuous access to information about industry developments, as well as reports, studies and statistics. It also receives assistance in all matters relating to financing and financial institutions, Structural Funds, state aids and further digitization.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, EPWCF has now direct international institutional representation at the levels of European Commission, European Parliament, European Council, European Investment Bank, European Investment Fund (EIF), Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Bank.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The president of EPWCF, Konstantinos Makedos,<\/strong>\u00a0said: &#8221; EPWCF is now officially a full member of the AECM pan-European agency. This is undoubtedly\u00a0<strong>an important development, as our successful assessment and participation in an organization of this magnitude shields our credibility and multiplies our development potential.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>It enables possibilities that can create opportunities for small and medium-sized entrepreneurship, Greek scientists and the entire technical sector in the country.<\/strong>\u00a0We commit ourselves to exploiting these prospects in order to improve and strengthen our industry know-how and dynamism with the ultimate goal of restarting the economy, halting brain drain, and effectively supporting young scientists. &#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>AECM President, Mr. Bernhard Sagmeister,\u00a0<\/strong>welcomed the inclusion of EPWCF stating:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;With great joy and honor, I welcome EPWCF as a new full member of AECM. I am sure that it will be a brilliant addition to our Union&#8217;s ongoing actions, contributing successfully to the exchange of experience and the enhancement of know-how.<\/p>\n<p>Engineers and Public Works Contractors Fund is widely recognized in Greece as a leading organization that supports the development of activities for more than 30,000 engineers, scientists and SMEs in Greece.\u00a0<strong>With the President, Mr. Konstantinos Makedos and the profound knowledge of his team, we will jointly launch new activities for the benefit of SMEs and our societies in general. We are looking forward to working with EPWCF\u00bb<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>European Association of Guarantee Institutions\u200b &#8211;\u00a0AECM<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The international non-profit organization &#8220;European Association of Guarantee Institutions&#8221; (AECM), was founded in 1992 in Brussels and has 48 members, active in 28 EU countries, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Russia and the Turkey. Its members are private guarantee institutions, as well as public institutions, which are either guarantee funds or Development Banks with a guarantee section. The common aim of the members is to provide SME loan guarantees, which present a sound financial plan but can not provide sufficient bank guarantees.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_1_4 1_4 fusion-one-fourth fusion-column-last\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;width:25%;width:calc(25% - ( ( 4% ) * 0.25 ) );\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-bottom:60px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-widget-area awb-widget-area-element fusion-widget-area-1 fusion-content-widget-area\" style=\"--awb-title-color:#000000;--awb-padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\">\n\t\t<div id=\"recent-posts-3\" class=\"widget widget_recent_entries\">\n\t\t<div class=\"heading\"><h4 class=\"widget-title\">Recent Posts<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/2026\/04\/22\/%ce%bdext-gen-digital-services-tmede-portfolio-services-konstantinos-makedos-tmede-portfolio-represents-a-qualitative-leap-in-productivity-and-a-substantial-improvement-in-our-members-daily-t\/\">\u039dext-Gen Digital Services &#8211; TMEDE Portfolio Services &#8211; Konstantinos Makedos: &#8220;TMEDE Portfolio represents a qualitative leap in productivity and a substantial improvement in our members&#8217; daily transactions.&#8221;<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/2026\/04\/14\/p-o-mi-t-e-d-y-event-at-the-tmede-building-engineers-in-the-public-sector-from-signature-to-disciplinary-liability\/\">P.O.MI.T.E.D.Y. Event at the TMEDE Building: \u201cEngineers in the Public Sector: From Signature to Disciplinary Liability\u201d<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/2026\/03\/02\/financing-agreement-renewal-hellenic-development-bank-and-epwcf-tmede-extend-the-hdb-epwcf-guarantee-fund-through-2026\/\">Financing Agreement Renewal: Hellenic Development Bank and EPWCF\u2013TMEDE Extend the &#8220;HDB\u2013EPWCF Guarantee Fund&#8221; Through 2026<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/2025\/12\/15\/kyriakos-pierrakakis-money-is-not-simply-available-it-is-created-growth-emerges-from-sound-strategies\/\">Kyriakos Pierrakakis: \u201cMoney is not simply available; it is created. Growth emerges from sound strategies.\u201d<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\n\t\t<\/div><div id=\"categories-3\" class=\"widget widget_categories\"><div class=\"heading\"><h4 class=\"widget-title\">Categories<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-9\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/category\/digital-services\/\">Digital Services (5)<\/a>\n<\/li>\n\t<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/category\/news\/\">News (69)<\/a>\n<\/li>\n\t<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-4\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/category\/newsletter\/\">Newsletter (2)<\/a>\n<\/li>\n\t<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/category\/presidents-articles-speeches\/\">President&#039;s Articles &amp; Speeches (7)<\/a>\n<\/li>\n\t<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-7\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/category\/press-releases\/\">Press Releases (47)<\/a>\n<\/li>\n\t<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/category\/tmede-regulation\/\">TMEDE Regulation (1)<\/a>\n<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"fusion-additional-widget-content\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":377,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press-releases"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=127"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":132,"href":"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127\/revisions\/132"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmede.gr\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}