Obtaining funding
Access to finance is vital in order to start or expand a business, and the EU provides finance for small firms in different forms - grants, loans, and in some cases, guarantees. In addition, the EU funds specific projects. EU funding can be divided into two categories:
- direct funding through grants;
- indirect funding through national and local intermediaries.
Find out more about which type of funding suits your needs and how to apply for it.
General information on funding
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Guide to the main funding opportunities available to European SMEs
An A to Z of EU support for SMEs - this downloadable guide presents different EU schemes providing assistance and financial support for small businesses.
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What type of finance is available to get an innovative small business off the ground? How can small businesses increase their opportunities to obtain finance from banks, guarantee providers and venture capital funds? What does the EU do to stimulate the provision of finance for SMEs? This website explains the ins and outs of SMEs' access to finance.
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The clip illustrates through success stories how the EU is assisting small businesses in financing their investments and expansion.
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The EU finance day for SMEs is a series of one-day events raising awareness about sources of finance and providing a forum for sharing good practice. The events will run until mid-2010.
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Facts and figures on the development of SME finance in the EU.
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What are SMEs' needs regarding finance? The European Central Bank (ECB) and the Commission regularly carry out surveys to answer this question. They provide key figures regarding access to finance and identify which instruments are used.
Applying for money
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EU grants, funds and programmes (calls for proposals)
Direct access to all open calls for proposals published by the Commission (among them, many SME-specific programmes).
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Access2finance - direct access to national financial intermediaries
This website guides you to the appropriate financial intermediary to obtain an EU-backed SME loan in your country.
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Intermediary banks and financing institutions for EIB credit lines
A list of banks and financing institutions that function as intermediaries for investments that are being financed through European Investment Bank (EIB) credit lines.
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Help and advice for small firms in EU matters, including accessing markets both within the EU and beyond and applying for funding - the Enterprise Europe Network offers personal support through a network of local contact points. An online database also provides B2B contacts and information on funding.
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Looking for business opportunities in another EU country? For each step in the life-cycle of a business from its creation to the decision to stop, the Your Europe - Business portal provides information on procedures and opportunities in all EU countries as well as on relevant EU action.
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Regional development programmes - managing authorities
Contact details of the national and regional authorities managing the programmes which get support from the EU's structural funds. They inform potential beneficiaries, select projects and follow up their implementation.
Capital, loans and bank guarantees
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European Investment Bank (EIB) loans for SMEs
Who is eligible for EIB loans for small firms, what kind of projects are funded, and how can SMEs obtain such a loan? This practical guide provides answers to these questions.
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Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) - financial instruments
These instruments include the high growth and innovative SME facility, the SME guarantee facility and the seed capital action. They cover different needs depending on the development stage of the SME and are administered for the European Commission by the European Investment Fund (EIF).
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European Investment Fund (EIF) services for small businesses
The EIF provides venture capital for small businesses via venture capital funds and business incubators that support SMEs, and guarantees to financial institutions such as banks, to cover their SME loans and guarantees.
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JEREMIE - Improved access to finance for small business in the regions
JEREMIE helps small firms to receive funding through financial intermediaries. JEREMIE funds are available in regions entitled to funding under the regional policy objectives.
Official name
Joint European REsources for MIcro and medium Enterprises (JEREMIE)
Period
2007-2013
Type of support
Financial instrument
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Joint Action to Support Micro-finance Institutions in Europe - JASMINE
JASMINE helps small companies start up by encouraging the supply of micro-credits, and supports the development of non-bank micro-finance institutions.
Official name
Joint Action to Support Micro-finance Institutions in Europe (JASMINE)
Period
2007-2013
Type of support
Financial instrument
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EIB loans for SMEs in Eastern Neighbourhood countries
European Investment Bank (EIB) loans for small businesses are now also available in the EU's neighbours in Central and Eastern Europe (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine), via the EIB's partner banks.
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EIB loans for SMEs in Mediterranean partner countries (FEMIP)
FEMIP grants loans to small businesses in the Mediterranean (Algeria, Egypt, Gaza/West Bank, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria and Tunisia), mostly through local intermediaries, for projects to boost the economic infrastructure of the area.
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European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
While the EBRD finances many small projects directly, it also supports financial intermediaries such as local commercial banks, micro-business banks, equity funds and leasing facilities, to give entrepreneurs and small firms greater access to finance.
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The facility operates in the EU countries of Central and Eastern Europe (including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia), funding small firms through loans to local banks, leasing companies and investments in private equity funds.
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Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF)
This facility focuses on the investment needs of neighbouring countries in fields like transport, energy, the environment and social issues. It also supports the private sector particularly through risk capital operations targeting SMEs.
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Guide to Multi-country Co-operation Instruments in the EU's Neighbourhood [129 KB]
This is an electronic guide to EU funding in Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Republic of Moldova, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Russian Federation, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine.
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European Progress Microfinance Facility
The EU has set up a new European Progress Microfinance Facility providing microcredit to small businesses and to people who have lost their jobs and want to start their own small businesses.
