This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission has today adopted a recommendation on voluntary sustainability reporting for small and medium-sized companies (SMEs). The recommendation presents a voluntary standard that will make it easier for SMEs that are not covered by the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) to respond to […]Commission presents voluntary sustainability reporting standard to ease burden on SMEs
July 31, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission has today adopted a recommendation on voluntary sustainability reporting for small and medium-sized companies (SMEs). The recommendation presents a voluntary standard that will make it easier for SMEs that are not covered by the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) to respond to […]EBRD and EU support the digitalisation of SMEs in Kosovo
April 16, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing €3 million to ProCredit Bank in Bosnia and Herzegovina to on-lend to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for investments in digital and automation technology. The loan is being made under the European Union (EU) supported Go […]Commission launches helpdesk to support EU SMEs comply with sanctions
March 26, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has launched a new one-stop-shop providing vital support to European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) navigating the complex landscape of sanctions compliance. The EU Sanctions Helpdesk will offer a comprehensive range of services designed to help SMEs comply with EU sanctions […]Belgium: KBC enhances focus on sustainability investments by SMEs with new EIB facility
December 5, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. KBC and the European Investment Bank continue their longstanding partnership with a new loan facility aimed at improving access to finance and supporting sustainability investments by small and medium-sized Belgian businesses. Through a €300 million EIB loan, which KBC will match with its own funds, €600 […]Serbia: European Union provides €160 million for the sustainable growth of SMEs through EIB Global, Banca Intesa and Intesa Leasing partnership
November 29, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. To spur growth, employment, and the green transition, the European Union has provided a €160 million financial package to support Serbian businesses. This initiative, which was announced today at a ceremony in Belgrade, is the result of a partnership between EIB Global of the European Investment Bank […]Romania: Banca Transilvania signs its first synthetic securitisation, supporting new lending to SMEs and mid-caps
July 1, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank Group (EIB Group), comprising the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF), has strengthened the long-term co-operation with Banca Transilvania (BT) by approving a synthetic securitisation and new lending commitments. The landmark transaction is BT’s first securitisation transaction and […]Spain: EIB Group and BBVA unlock €800 million to support energy transition and small and medium-sized enterprises
June 21, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The EIB Group (European Investment Bank and European Investment Fund) has invested €377 million in the ¨BBVA Consumer 2024-1¨ securitisation fund. This investment will enable BBVA to channel nearly €800 million into the real economy to finance energy efficiency projects and new mortgages for highly energy-efficient homes. The […]Are global value chains leaving Indonesian SMEs behind?
February 20, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Arip Tirta, President, Evermos, Prasanti W. Sarli, Head of Social Impact, Evermos Indonesia is on the verge of hitting the middle-income trap. Despite the massive growth across the country over the past two decades, it can’t seem to reach its […]How digital connectivity can empower MSMEs
December 21, 2023 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Mats Granryd, Director-General and Member of the Board, GSMA, Ling Hai, Co-President, Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa and South America, Mastercard According to the United Nations, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), both formal and informal, make up over […]Commission launches €7.5 million calls to support the integration of Ukrainian SMEs in the Single Market
March 1, 2023 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission is launching two calls for proposals under the joint title “ReadyForEU”, with a total budget of €7.5 million. The two calls aim at helping Ukrainian entrepreneurs and businesses to benefit from the Single Market. The calls are funded under the Single […]EU Cohesion Policy: European Structural and Investment Funds supported SMEs, employment of millions of people and clean energy production
January 31, 2023 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. In 2014-2020, the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) unleashed a total investment of €731 billion, of which €535 billion was funded by the EU, fostering lasting socio-economic convergence, territorial cohesion, social Europe and a smooth green and digital transition. This is explained […]Why big business must support SMEs to achieve economic growth and get to net zero
January 6, 2023 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Henadi Al-Saleh, Chairperson, Agility As the COVID-19 pandemic wanes, policymakers and corporate leaders have arrived at a long overdue conclusion: small business really matters. There’s a consensus that smaller enterprises are critical to the world’s two most pressing challenges. […]Why we shouldn’t overlook the impact of SMEs on local and global economies
August 29, 2022 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Julia Devos, Head, New Champions Community, World Economic Forum, Zishu Chen, Content Curator, New Champions, World Economic Forum Beijing The contribution that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make in driving positive social, environmental and economic change is often […]State aid: Commission approves €226 million Hungarian scheme to support SMEs in context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
June 20, 2022 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved a €226 million(HUF 90 billion) Hungarian scheme to support small and medium-sized enterprises (‘SMEs’) across sectors in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted by the Commission […]State aid: Commission gives green light to new synthetic securitisation product under the European Guarantee Fund to further support SMEs affected by the coronavirus outbreak in 22 Member States
August 17, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission approved, under EU State aid rules, the introduction of a new product in the the form of guarantees on synthetic securitisation tranches under the European Guarantee Fund managed by the European Investment Bank Group (consisting of the European Investment Bank, “EIB” […]How decentralized finance will transform business financial services – especially for SMEs
July 22, 2021 by 3 Comments
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Rebecca Liao, Co-Founder, SKUChain Decentralized finance (DeFi) is emerging as a tool for smaller businesses in developing markets, particularly for remittances and small loans;The transaction banking industry is beginning to see DeFi’s potential to overhaul the inflexibility of […]What Europe’s SMEs need to do for a cyber-secure future
June 29, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Alba Perez Grandi, Communications Officer, ENISA & Anna Sarri, Cybersecurity Officer, ENISA & Viktor Paggio, Seconded National Expert, ENISA Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) constitute 99% of businesses in the EU and face diverse cybersecurity challenges including low […]State aid: Commission approves €6 billion Italian schemes to support SMEs affected by coronavirus outbreak
August 3, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved three Italian schemes, with an overall budget of €6 billion, mainly consisting of incentives to the recapitalisation by private investors of small and medium-sized enterprises (‘SMEs’) affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The three schemes were approved directly under Article […]State aid: Commission approves UK schemes to support SMEs affected by coronavirus outbreak
March 25, 2020 by 2 Comments
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved two separate UK State aid schemes to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The schemes were approved under the State aid Temporary Framework to support the economy in the context of the […]State aid: Commission approves €3 billion Portuguese guarantee schemes for SMEs and midcaps affected by Coronavirus outbreak
March 23, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has found four Portuguese guarantee schemes for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and midcaps affected by the Coronavirus outbreak to be in line with EU State aid rules. The schemes, with a total budget of €3 billion, were approved under the […]
Scaling for success: SMEs, tech innovations and the ITU Telecom World Awards 2019, in association with The European Sting
July 4, 2019 by Leave a Comment
Sponsored content A citizens’ engagement tool from South Africa. An Indonesian micro-financing platform for SMEs. A Nairobi-based firm providing innovative connectivity solutions to tracking vehicles at airports or connect students in off-grid schools. And a new Japanese technology to regenerate lead-acid batteries, increasing the availability of low-cost power whilst reducing environmental waste. They’re all small […]How fintech is setting Southeast Asia’s SMEs free
June 14, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Benedict Carandang, Vice President, First Circle Around 1.7 billion people globally are still unbanked – either having no proper savings or access to credit – according to the 2017 Global Findex Database. In Southeast Asia, only 27% of adults […]SMEs are driving job growth, but need higher investment in skills, innovation and tech to boost wages and productivity
May 20, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with OECD. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been a significant driver of employment growth in recent years, mainly through the creation of new firms, including in high-growth sectors such as information and communication technologies (ICT). But the new OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Outlook highlights that most SME […]SMEs turning to alternative financing instruments as growth slows in bank lending
April 15, 2019 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with OECD. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are turning to non-bank financing sources at a faster pace than in the past, as bank lending to them has risen less than expected given today’s favourable credit conditions and business environment. Financing SMEs and Entrepreneurs 2019: An OECD Scoreboard finds that […]EU Copyright Directive: Google News threatens to leave Europe while media startups increasingly worry
January 23, 2019 by 1 Comment
The European Copyright Directive negotiation meeting, which was supposed to take place last Monday regarding the finalization of Article 13 and Article 11, was cancelled due to the fact that eleven out of 28 EU countries voted against the text. The text is expected to be altered by the Romanian Council presidency in order to […]SMEs are the most valuable partners. Here’s why
January 9, 2019 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Tarek Sultan Al Essa, Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman of the Board, Agility In recent years, large global companies have come to understand the need to innovate and evolve more rapidly to stay competitive and relevant. That recognition […]Here are four steps SMEs can take for long-term success
November 28, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the strategic cooperation of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: C. Keith Cargill, President and CEO, Texas Capital Bancshares There are benefits to looking beyond the traditional one-size-fits-all approach, in business and elsewhere. Recent technological innovations have made it more possible than ever before to offer clients the […]EU budget for 2019: do more for the young, SMEs and the climate, urge MEPs
July 6, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Next year’s EU budget should focus on young people, say MEPs, in a resolution voted on Thursday. Other priorities are growth, security, fighting climate change and migration. The resolution, which sets out principles for MEPs to follow in 2019 budget negotiations with the Council, […]A Sting Exclusive: EU Commissioner Mimica looks at how the private sector can better deliver for international development
June 14, 2016 by Leave a Comment
This article was exclusively written for the Sting by Mr Neven Mimica, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation & Development. There’s never been a more relevant time to look at what role the private sector has to play in development. What are the challenges, and what can it help to deliver? The current world situation leaves us […]Environmental labelling, information and management schemes are central to the circular economy
May 29, 2015 by 1 Comment
Eco-innovation, as well as environmental labels, information and management schemes are essential to get Europe on the path to a circular economy. This was the primary conclusion of the 18th European Forum on Eco-innovation held in Barcelona, on 20-21 May. Over 300 stakeholders from across Europe came together to make recommendations on what the European […]Can ECB’s €60 billion a month save Eurozone?
March 4, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The European Central Bank as from this March will start pumping into the Eurozone economy extra liquidity of €60 billion a month of freshly printed money. The details of this extraordinary policy measure will be revealed tomorrow Thursday by Mario Draghi the President of ECB, in his regular Press conference after the Governing Council meeting […]Eurozone: GDP development heads to naught; the expensive euro serves only Germany
August 17, 2014 by Leave a Comment
A new Eurostat wave of data statistically confirmed that Eurozone is utterly moored in economic stagnation, with disturbing signs that this might even turn to recession. Most significantly, last week the EU statistical service issued an estimate that the euro area GDP idled with a zero growth rate during the second quarter. The same source […]Industrial price dive may lead to point of no return
August 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Last Monday, Eurostat, the EU statistical service issued data on June industrial price developments (0.1% month to month), actually showing stagnation in relation to May. It is more alarming to observe though that all along the first five months of 2014, from January to May on a month to month basis, industrial prices had been […]
