European social entrepreneurship funds as a new form of collective investments

Abstract

A new act of the EU secondary law having direct effect has been enacted this year at the level of the European Union, that is, the Regulation on European social entrepreneurship funds. This Regulation established a common framework concerning the usage of the name “EuSEF” in order to define the investment funds which make investments in social enterprises both within and outside of the territory of the European Union. The Regulation lays down the common rules regarding the nature and management of these funds, establishes criteria which enable to distinguish between social entrepreneurship funds and alternative investments funds. It is intended to encourage the development of social enterprises in the territory of the European Union. Therefore, analyzing the norms of this Regulation, the author tries to define what European social entrepreneurship fund is and answers the question about the prospects of its further development.

Keywords:

European social entrepreneurship funds, investment funds, social investments