The support of small and medium enterprises for sustainable development in the EU

Abstract

The article examines the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) support measures for sustainable development in the European Union (EU). The study focuses on the theoretical approaches to the concept of sustainable development that is the basis for the development of sustainability programs in the EU in which small and medium-sized companies take part. The article scrutinizes the aim of the European countries to decrease the ecological footprint by taking collective action in the EU and introducing measures to make the production process greener in the EU member countries. The authors underline the role of SMEs in the realization of 17 Sustainable development goals (SDGs) developed by the United Nations. They outline the support measures for sustainable development which number has increased considerably in EU-27 member states in the last three years and that include the support measures for improving regulation of the SMEs activity, their access to resources in accordance with the SME Strategy for sustainable and digital Europe, measures to introduce innovations in ecological and social spheres; technologies of the circular economy and wasteless production that can be implemented in Russia. The study is based on the data of international organizations, international agencies and documents of the European Commission.