The EU is supporting SMEs through 100+ projects in the Eastern Partnership region

LEADER, an EU initiative introduced in 1991, employs a community-led approach to address rural area challenges. It aims to stimulate local economic growth, especially for micro and small businesses, with Local Action Groups (LAGs) playing a pivotal role in driving local development initiatives.

The "EU4Business: Connecting Companies" project seeks to boost trade between EU Member States and the six Eastern Partner countries, prioritizing five sectors with high potential for SME export expansion: Organic Food, Creative Industries, Textiles, Tourism, and Wine-making.

The project, under the EU4Business initiative, aims to promote balanced and inclusive growth in tourism and innovative industries in Armenia. It focuses on developing innovative tourism ventures in Northern regions, supporting high-tech entrepreneurs, facilitating international knowledge exchanges for researchers, and fostering entrepreneurship culture among students and the general population.

The project provides an online portal for accessing regional trade information, conduct surveys on trade barriers, and offer training to enhance the collection and analysis of trade data.

EU-GAIA, the EU Green Initiative in Armenia, stands as the largest agricultural support project in the country, funded primarily by the European Union (EU) and co-implemented by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), with partial implementation by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

This project assists Ukraine in enhancing its systems for food safety and veterinary care, including animal welfare controls.

EU prioritizes economic development in Georgia, supporting cluster approach to boost SME competitiveness and job creation.

The project is part of EU4Business support in Georgia, aiming to assist entrepreneurs, improve the legal environment and access to finance, and strengthen ties with the EU.