Press Release: Commission reviews Community financial insturments for SMEs and sets framework for future action

In a Communication to the Council the Commission reviews Community financial instruments related to SMEs, whether managed by the EIB, the EIF or the Commission, and sets up a framework for future Community action. SME support should be offered through four windows (loans, equity, guarantees, grants). Recommendations are made under three headings: (i) measures to refocus the available financial instruments on the political priorities identified at the Lisbon European Council (ii) measures to improve the coherence and co-ordination between the various Community financial instruments and (iii) measures to enhance the visibility and accessibility of Community actions.