Using crowdfunding and business angels to finance business start-ups in the EU
7.1.2014
Question for written answer E-000058-14
to the Commission
Rule 117
Georgios Koumoutsakos (PPE)
‘Crowdfunding’ and ‘business angels’ both provide means of financing business start-ups that have proved highly successful in the USA, crowdfunding rules being set out in the recently adopted ‘Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act’ (‘JOBS ACT’). Apart from the USA, Italy also adopted crowdfunding legislation in December 2012, which came into effect in July 2013, and similar legislation is currently being drawn up in France.
The activities of business angels, specialised investors funding business start-ups generally within their own specialist areas, have spread significantly in EU countries as well, especially in the. United Kingdom.
Given that such resources may provide a useful and valuable means of stimulating growth:
- — Can the Commission identify those countries in which these two methods of financing are currently being used and with what degree of success?
- — Does it intend to take action at EU level to encourage these initiatives and is it planning to do so in the near future?
OJ C 279, 22/08/2014