EU-backed loans for small businesses

The European Union (EU) supports financing for small businesses (small or medium-sized enterprises, known as SMEs) to help their business start up or develop.

The EU supports SMEs through the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme 2007-2013 (CIP).CIP funds are used to guarantee loans to SMEs provided by a range of financial institutions involved in SME lending. The CIP funds are also available for the countries of the European Economic Area (EEA).

Are you eligible?

To apply for a loan, you need to be an eligible SME under terms that are defined for CIP by the European Commission.

1. Your enterprise has fewer than 250 employees
2. It has a turnover of less than €50m and/or a balance sheet total of less than €43m
3. Your business is considered an SME as set out in the EC's regulations. For information about the EU's SME definition, click here.
   

Look for a source of CIP loan finance in Luxembourg click here

Please note that only loans - not grants - are available.
If you are looking for information about other sources of EU funding, please click here.