Better access to finance
Small businesses often have difficulties financing their growth and innovations. The European Commission is working with the Member States to stimulate the provision of loans and venture capital for SMEs.
Getting an innovative firm off the ground or expanding it requires money, but financing SMEs is a risky proposition for financiers. To solve this, Europe needs more investors and banks willing to take the risk, and European entrepreneurs need a better understanding of investors' and banks' concerns in order to be able to provide assurances about the soundness of their proposal.
What does the EU do?
- We improve the financing environment for small businesses in Europe to help innovation and growth. This happens both through our own policies and by helping the Member States to share good policies and benefit from the experiences of others.
- The Commission is also helping small businesses to overcome financial market weaknesses, mostly by working together with various financial institutions to provide them with funding. The goal is to increase the opportunities for small businesses to obtain finance from banks, guarantee providers and venture capital funds.
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Improving financing
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More risk capital
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Better borrowing environment
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CIP Financial Instruments
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Data
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Guide to funding
News
Events
- European e-Skills Conference Brussels, 20 November 2009
- EU Finance Day for SMEs Lisbon, Portugal, 4 December 2009
Contracts & Grants
- Series of economic studies on the knowledge economy to be published (Deadline: TBA)
- FP7 Security Call 3 - FP7-SEC-2010-1 (Deadline: 26/11/2009)
Publications
- Investment readiness for women entrepreneurs 9 November 2009
Multimedia
- Videoclip 'Access to finance: closer to SMEs' 24 April 2008
Public consultations
- Suggestions to reduce administrative burdens put on business by the EU (Deadline: TBA)
- Have your say on EU financial rules (Deadline: 18/12/2009)
