Brussels, 8 September 2025 – The European Commission has published its annual report on the support of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the five Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries under the EU4Business Initiative.
This year's report provides comprehensive insights into EU assistance for MSMEs throughout 2024, focusing on three key areas: access to finance, business development services, and the business-enabling environment.
In 2024, EU4Business supported more than 80,000 MSMEs in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. These businesses created over 120,000 new jobs, bringing the total number of sustained jobs to more than 650,000, and generated over €9.9 billion in turnover.
Access to Finance
Up to 56,000 SMEs obtained financial support through loans totalling over €1.9 billion, with an average loan size of around €34,000. The EU4Business website provides details on specific outcomes in the access-to-finance area and highlights personal stories of entrepreneurs who have benefited from loans or grants, such as an Armenian furniture company that quadrupled its turnover with EU4Business support, and a Moldovan entrepreneur whose physical rehabilitation centre helps stroke and trauma patients walk again.
Business Development Services
In 2024, €35.1 million was allocated to enhance the professional skills of SMEs in the EaP, representing more than 20% of the total funds distributed. Almost 22,000 SMEs were supported by consultancy services, incubators, clusters, and B2B activities, and 707 BSOs were capacitated. Behind these numbers are stories about inspiring entrepreneurs, such as a Georgian tourism leader who strengthened her association and shaped new tourism legislation with EU4Business support, and an Azerbaijani company that streamlined its operations by automating business processes.
Business Enabling Environment
The EU supported a business-enabling environment with a budget of €28.6 million. This funding helped up to 7,000 government institutions– encompassing policymakers, regulators, and enforcement agencies – strengthen their capabilities and led to the reform of more than 310 laws, regulations, and procedures. The business-enabling environment component features various stories, such as the one about a Ukrainian deregulation reform that eliminated over 300 outdated business regulations and saved companies up to UAH 21.3 billion in administrative costs.
About EU4Business
EU4Business is an umbrella initiative, encompassing all EU support to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the Eastern Partnership countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. EU supports SME growth by improving access to finance and business development services, and by promoting better business regulation.
Full PDF version of EU4Business Annual Report 2025
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