Data on access to finance

Glasses on data fact sheet

The Commission has created tools for analysis and monitoring, but is also committed to collecting data on the prevailing conditions in the loan and equity finance markets in order to make European financial markets more responsive to the needs of small businesses.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for 99% of firms in the EU. They provide some 67% of all jobs in the EU.

Given their importance to the EU economy, it is vital to understand the real situation that SMEs are facing when trying to access finance.

The lack of internationally agreed indicators and the scarcity of comparable data make it difficult to accurately assess the situation for small businesses. Therefore, the Commission has created tools for analysis and monitoring.

Enterprise Finance Index

The Enterprise Finance Index contains a wide range of data on access to finance across the EU to help policymakers evaluate the effects of policies on small and medium-sized business finance across Europe. Data is available on total volumes, interest rates, the number of operations and beneficiaries. The index includes figures on the use of loans, guarantees, venture capital and business angel finance in the EU and on the use of EU financial instruments.

Surveys

Surveys on SMEs' access to finance: a major survey will be carried out every two years, with the European Central Bank (ECB) using a subset of the questions every six months. The goal is to assess the situation as regards access for SMEs to finance.

  • Access to finance 2009: a Flash Eurobarometer survey on SME access to finance covers all 27 EU countries plus Croatia, Iceland and Norway.

Flash Eurobarometer on SME access to finance - Short summary pdf - 39 KB [39 KB]
Flash Eurobarometer on SME access to finance - Analytical report pdf - 2 MB [2 MB]
Flash Eurobarometer on SME access to finance - Part A pdf - 4 MB [4 MB]
Flash Eurobarometer on SME access to finance - Part B pdf - 4 MB [4 MB]

A corresponding report for the Euro Area has been published by the European Central Bank. You can read the "Survey on the access to finance of SMEs in the Euro Area" here.

 

 

Last update: 12/12/2009 | Top