Analysis of financial support from European Structural Founds for development of Lithuanian small- and medium size business
ENDisparities between the EU regions existed from the very beginning. In order to help the Candidate Countries to prepare for accession three EU Structural funds type instruments (ISPA, SAP ARD and PHARE) were made available for Lithuania Therefore, Lithuania had a possibility to acquire practical experience of how the EU Structural Funds are managed and prepare for a smooth transfer to the "real'’ structural funds by creating the necessary structures, legislative basis and develop ing the required administrative capacity to absorb the EU structural support. Small- and medium-size business development effects significantly competitiveness and growth of market economics. After joining the EU, the role of small- and medium size business enterprises of Lithuania will become more significant. Employees of the small- and medium-size business enterprises make up more than a half (about. 66%) of the total number of employees in the EU countries, and produce 75% of GNP, meanwhile Lithuanian small- and medium-size business enterprises employ approximately 68% of the total amount of Lithuanian working people; however they produce only 58% of GNP. Therefore support to small- and medium-size business enterprises should become one of the priorities in our country and EU. Aim of this works was to analyse the influence of financial support for the development of small- and medium-size business in Lithuania. The main tasks are: Review the situation of Lithuanian small- and medium-size business in the context of the European Union; Discuss the tendencies of the financial support of the European Union Structural Funds; Perform SWOT analysis of the financial support for the development of Lithuanian small- and medium-size business.
