Commission supports Latvia in facilitating access to financing for SMEs

The European Commission and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have been providing support to Latvia through the Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP) to strengthen the functioning of Latvian capital markets.
The result of the support project, a SME listing instrument that will facilitate the deployment of European Structural and Investment Funds for SMEs, was presented today during an event in Riga. The ultimate goal of this instrument will be to increase access to capital market financing for Latvian SMEs.

Under this new instrument, SMEs will prepare an application to be submitted in order to get approval for listing and to issue equities and bonds over the subsequent three years. Under this new instrument, SMEs will prepare an application for a grant to cover up to half of all preparation costs for listing equities and bonds. The instrument will be co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. At least 18 SMEs are expected to participate in the instrument.

The Structural Reform Support Programme offers expertise to all EU countries for the implementation of growth-enhancing reforms. The support is based on request and is tailor-made for the beneficiary Member State. Since 2017, the programme has been supporting close to 800 reform projects in 27 Member States.