Brussels, 3 March 2026 – Representatives of the European Commission, national governments, international financial institutions, development banks and private sector partners gathered in Brussels for the EU4Business General Assembly, reviewing progress in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the Eastern Partnership region and discussing priorities for the coming years.
The event brought together around 30 participants in Brussels and more than 150 participants online, reflecting the strong engagement of stakeholders involved in the EU’s flagship initiative supporting SMEs in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
The Assembly opened with remarks from DG ENEST management and partner governments, highlighting the importance of continued EU support for private sector development, economic resilience and regional cooperation. Over the past years, EU4Business has played a central role in strengthening the SME ecosystem through improved access to finance, business development services and regulatory reform.
The first panel focused on communications and outreach supporting the EU4Business initiative. Representatives of the EU Delegations to Ukraine and Georgia discussed how they engage local business communities and promote EU4Business opportunities. An SME from Georgia, Wine Diamond, joined the discussion online, sharing its experience of participating in the programme and highlighting which outreach tools are most effective in reaching entrepreneurs.
The second panel focused on the Access to Finance pillar, examining how financial instruments under the EU4Business initiative have evolved and how they respond to new economic challenges in partner countries. The discussion brought together representatives of international financial institutions, development banks and partner financial institutions, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Polish development bank BGK.
Participants discussed cooperation between IFIs and local financial institutions in delivering EU4Business financial products, including risk-sharing mechanisms and credit facilities designed to improve access to finance for SMEs across the Eastern Partnership region.
The third panel explored how EU4Business contributes to economic integration and connectivity across the Eastern Partnership region, including support to EU accession reforms in Ukraine and Moldova and enhanced trade opportunities in the South Caucasus. Representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalisation of Moldova, the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) discussed the importance of helping SMEs adapt to EU regulatory standards while also benefiting from new trade corridors and regional connectivity initiatives such as the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor.
The discussion also featured entrepreneurs benefiting from EU4Business support, including representatives of Kovzy LLC in Georgia, Pizza Mizza LLC in Azerbaijan, and Darman Tea LLC in Armenia, who shared how targeted business development support helps companies expand internationally and participate more actively in regional supply chains.
The Assembly concluded with reflections on the evolving economic landscape and the continued role of EU4Business in supporting entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainable economic growth in the region.
EU4Business remains the European Union’s umbrella initiative supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in the Eastern Partnership countries, helping businesses grow through better access to finance, improved business services and stronger regulatory frameworks.
