According to the annual report on European SMEs published by the European Commission, that was presented at the relevant conference in Naples, Greece lost 27% of the jobs created by small and medium businesses (630,000 jobs) and 33% of the added value generated by them.

The number of SMEs was reduced by more than 200,000, and nearly 1 in 4 SMEs that operated in 2008 closed.

In fact, it is estimated in the report that an additional 106,000 jobs will be lost and 40,000 business will close.

Greece ranks below the EU average in all important sub-indices: second chance, internationalization, access to finance, single market, state aid and public procurement, environment, skills and innovation, entrepreneurship.

The report also states that Greece’s policy on SMEs remains weak.