Press Release: SME Finance Forum: Ensuring access to credit and to finance to small businesses

In the first meeting of the SME Finance Forum, possible means to improve the current situation of access to finance were discussed, such as the introduction of a grace period for firms in difficulties, the involvement of credit mediators and improved loan guarantees. Convened by Vice-President Antonio Tajani, leading European banking and business organisations examined ways to strengthen their efforts to ensure the continuous flow of funding to firms, especially small and medium-sized ones. This is the first time that such a high level group was convened to tackle the issue of access to credit and finance for small businesses.