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

The project, part of ENPARD's fourth phase, aims to improve food safety and promote agricultural exports. It focuses on enhancing capacities within the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, supporting producers and food businesses, and facilitating the export of Georgian agricultural products, particularly to the EU market.

The project significantly contributes to strengthening both the institutional and human capacities of GEOSTM. It enhances Georgia's standardization and metrology infrastructure, ensuring it can provide tailored services to stakeholders.

The Mayors for Economic Growth (M4EG) initiative, a partnership between the EU and UNDP, supports mayors and their teams across the Eastern Partnership region.

This project assists Eastern Partner governments in enhancing institutional frameworks, particularly for SMEs. It involves supporting the development of SME strategies, implementing monitoring systems, and fostering public-private dialogue to inform policymaking and monitor reform progress.

Project Objectives: improved agricultural competitiveness; enhanced economic opportunities, employment and services to the population; improved exports; enhanced consumer protection through increased quality and coverage of inspections and controls and effective enforcement of approximated legislation.

Within the project, the implementing European food safety institutions work closely with Georgian colleagues for legal approximation. They also align national rules and procedures with EU standards and build capacities in food safety, veterinary, phytosanitary, and SPS border control.

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 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.