Tender for strategic evaluation of EU financial assistance schemes for SMEs
The Budget DG of the European Commission has issued a call for tenders for a strategic evaluation of the European Union's financial assistance schemes for SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises). The principal aim of the strategic evaluations is to provide useful factors for the definition of the Commission's future policy guidelines. Amongst those topics identified is that of the financial assistance schemes for SMEs (see Communication C(2001) 3661 of 19-11-2001), which is the subject of this evaluation. The general aim of this evaluation is to examine the 'raison d'être,' the relevance, consistency, effectiveness and, as far as possible, the overall efficiency of the different Community financial assistance schemes (SAF) for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and to consolidate useful knowledge bases for the design and implementation of financial assistance schemes which are adapted to current and future developments in Community policies concerning SMEs.For further information, please contact: European Commission Directorate-General Budget Evaluation Unit Att: O. Rouland Brey 2 11/382 B-1049 Brussels Fax +32-2-2953145