The EMN was launched in 2003 by its founding members (Adie - France, NEF - UK and evers&jung - Germany), and with the valuable support of the European Commission and the French Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC). EMN was officially registered in Paris on 23rd May 2003 and was then established as a Non-Governmental Organisation.

Since December 2012, EMN has legally transferred its activities from France to Belgium. Under Belgian law, EMN constitutes an aisbl (“association internationale sans but lucratif” or “international non-profit association”). The association is governed by the provisions of Title III of Belgian Law of 27 June 1921 on non-profit associations, international non-profit associations and foundations (articles 46 to 57). For more information on the aisbl, download the Bylaws. 

Microfinance is a very diverse field but it is, nevertheless, context-specific. Microfinance in West-, East-, South-, and North-European countries evolves in very different environments. EMN strives to listen to the expectations and the needs of its members and find common ground between all of them, in order to represent them as well as possible and to speak with one voice.

EMN includes both members (active orcorporate) and partners, all of whom are organisations involved in European microfinance issues. If you want to contribute to the development of EMN, you can become a member or a partner.

EMN's main activities relate to:

• the capacity-building of our members through debates, workshops and training
• information exchange and networking events organised during visits between members (peer-to-peer) and exchange visits, working groups (Think-tanks and Idea-labs) and the Annual Conference 
• advocacy at EU level
• various time-limited projects
• the editing and dissemination of numerous publications (studies, magazines, overview surveys, newsletters, and more)

The Network is always keen to meet new microfinance and social inclusion specialists (academics, researchers, trainers, experts, etc.) who can punctually participate in studies, analyses, evaluation missions, and training sessions.