Founds and loans

The European Union gives assistance in different forms (subsidies, loans and in some cases, guarantees) to the small and medium enterprises of the member States and often also to enterprises in the accession Countries .

The support comes directly from the EU or through the structural funds for the Country. In the latter, funding is directly managed and  controlled by the national government.

The funds are targeted to priorities: environment, R&D, education. They are proposed and defined by different departments of the European Commission. The SME's can directly submit questions, proposals and projects for these programs. EU support consists in a grant that generally covers 50% of the project costs.

The European funds of regional development represents one of the most important sources of financing for the SME's. Trought different thematic programs and Community initiatives realized at the national level, the beneficiaries of the structural funds receive a contribution to realize their proposals.

The management of the programs and the selection of the projects are pinpointed on a national and regiona level .

They consist generally in initiatives of non financial assistance, mainly in the field of internationalization.