Flagship project
Strengthening small business growth across the Eastern Partnership
Helping turn EU support into measurable growth for up to 100,000 small businesses each year across the Eastern Partnership – creating jobs, increasing turnover and expanding exports.
The challenge
Across five Eastern Partnership countries, the EU4Business Initiative helps micro, small and medium-sized enterprises access finance, business development services and a better business environment. With a stakeholder pool that includes almost 500,000 businesses, business service organisations and up to fifty government agencies, a key problem is the analysis of results of this EUR 1.4 billion intervention of 109 projects. This is the task of the EU4Business Facility that has been tracking the initiative since 2017.
Our goal
Providing the European Commission with clear, comparable evidence on the results of EU4Business. Tracking annual progress, measuring business outcomes such as jobs, turnover, exports and access to finance, and following policy reforms across five partner countries. This evidence helps shape future EU support and strengthens policy dialogue, especially in accession partner countries.
Our approach
Each year, we analyse results from EU4Business implementing partners, including international financial institutions, donors and other organisations. Using representative samples, we measure key outcomes such as business growth, jobs created or sustained, loans mobilised, exports increased and advisory services provided.
We also assess gender-related results and support to government partners. Twice a year, local experts prepare policy updates for the European Commission, while regional General Assemblies bring stakeholders together to discuss progress, challenges and future priorities.
Impact in numbers
Key highlights
- We provide the European Commission with annual evidence on the performance of EU4Business across Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The analysis covers 109 current projects and feeds into public communication through the EU4Business platform.
- Beyond results monitoring, we deliver policy advisory reports to DG ENEST and contribute to dialogue with partners such as the EBRD and OECD. We also work with related EU initiatives and institutions, including EU4Innovation, EU Neighbours East and the European Union Intellectual Property Office.
- EU Delegations are central partners. We support them with tailored data and communication products for country-level events, including Europe Days in Moldova and Georgia. Most recently, we prepared long-term trend analysis from 2017 onwards, helping DG ENEST and EU Delegations see how EU4Business has grown and performed over the past decade.
Voices from the field
Now, with the European Union supporting our growth, we have the structure and systems to expand – while staying true to who we are.
Read more about the development of this business
The EU support gave me the confidence and motivation to grow the business.
Learn more about this story
The grant support I received is an inspiration for other women.
Read more about how she serves her community
Success story
From family business to global brand: Kormotech's international growth
What began as a family business in Ukraine has become one of the country's leading pet food producers. Under the leadership of CEO Rostyslav Vovk, Kormotech now sells its products in 51 countries and continues to expand internationally.
With support from the European Union under EU4Business, the company received advisory services to improve production processes, train in-house nutritionists and strengthen product quality. EU-supported grants also helped Kormotech invest in energy efficiency, including solar panels generating 1 MW of electricity, and improve its sustainability and cybersecurity standards.
Despite the challenges caused by Russia's full-scale invasion, Kormotech kept operating, expanded its export markets and supported humanitarian initiatives for animals across Ukraine. The company is now implementing a EUR 40 million investment programme to increase production and exports.
We aim to grow tenfold in export markets – from EUR 30 million to EUR 300 million, and eventually reach EUR 500 million by 2029.
Rostyslav Vovk · CEO of Kormotech · Ukraine
Read Rostyslav's complete story on the EU4Business websiteSpecial features
EU Neighbours East communication campaign
Launched in autumn 2025 together with EU Neighbours East, the campaign helped SMEs across the Eastern Partnership discover EU-funded business support. It showcased available opportunities, country-specific resources and real-life success stories, guiding businesses towards finance, expertise and new markets.
The campaign generated more than 3.3 million impressions, reached over 1 million people and drove 100,000+ clicks to EU4Business resources, while significantly increasing traffic to national EU4Business websites.
Impressions
