News/Press

Crane in Yerevan, Armenia @Thinkstock
Eastern Partnership cities sought to become pioneers of economic growth
26/04/2017
Local authorities in the six Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries are encouraged to apply for funding to help their cities lead economic growth and job creation in the region. The Call for Proposals “Mayors for Economic Growth Pioneer Projects” targets those cities that already have a Local Economic Development Plan which is consistent with the initiative and outlined in the mayor for Economic...
Launch conference
Launch of a new EUR 10 million credit line for SMEs in Moldova
Moldova
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05/04/2017
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched a new EUR 10 million credit line for SMEs in Moldova supported by EU4Business . The funds could help your SME take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) agreement Moldova has with the EU. The credit facility aims to help local SMEs invest in improvements in product...
Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova Pavel Filip
Moldova making good progress in Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with EU
04/04/2017
Moldova is making good progress overall in the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) it has with the EU - but needs to advance in several sectors, a key meeting held in Brussels heard on 31 March. Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip met with EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and the European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes...
EU experts needed to train business support managers from Eastern Partnership countries
20/03/2017
The East Invest 2 programme is recruiting EU experts to take part in a training academy for senior managers of Business Support Organisations (BSOs) in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries. The BSO Strategic Planning Academy will take place from 8 to 11 May 2017 in Westerham, Germany, organised under East Invest 2 , an EU-funded programme targeting Business (Support) Organisations (BSOs) and...
New website in Armenia for SMEs to report barriers to business
Armenia
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06/03/2017
Business associations in Armenia are creating a website to encourage SMEs to complain about barriers they face in doing business. The new reporting platform is part of a project, “Evidence-based Advocacy for Reform”, funded by the EU4Business programme. The European Business Association Armenia , the voice of the EU business community in the country set up by the EU Delegation to Armenia , said...
EU allocates €14.5m for SME development in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
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06/03/2017
The EU has allocated €14.5 million to Azerbaijan as part of the country’s regional development programme. It envisages a wide range of measures, from twinning and technical assistance to the creation of a business information system in rural area s, improved support for the development of SMEs in rural areas and family farming, the introduction of agriculture consulting services system, and...
EU and Azerbaijan enter negotiations for new partnership agreement
Azerbaijan
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06/03/2017
The EU intends to expand dialogue and cooperation with Azerbaijan as the two parties begin negotiations for a comprehensive new partnership agreement that will better address their shared challenges, said Christian Danielsson, director general for neighbourhood and enlargement negotiations at the European Commission. Mr Danielsson was speaking during a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart...
Innovative SMEs and women to benefit from new €6m EU fund
Belarus
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06/03/2017
The EU is to provide a further €6 million for the development of SMEs in Belarus over the next four years – with a special emphasis on innovative startups and women in business . “We would like to support innovative fledgling companies and small enterprises, and women who are engaged in business under the very good Women in Business project launched this year,” said Andrea Wiktorin, Head of the...
USD 100m in additional support for Georgian SMEs
Georgia
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06/03/2017
A new USD 100 million financing package organised under the EU4Business programme will enable the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to provide further support to Georgian SMEs. The funding, in the national Lari currency, will be fed through TBC Bank , one of Georgia’s major financial entities. USD 60m of the amount is designed to help SMEs comply with the requirements of the...
Moldova sets up consultative council for SMEs
Moldova
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06/03/2017
The Moldovan Government is establishing a Consultative Council for the development of SMEs in the country. The new structure will operate under the Ministry of Economy and act as a platform for effective dialogue between entrepreneurs and government departments. The council, set up under a new law for SMEs adopted in the last quarter of 2016, will study the problems of small and medium-sized...