The results provide findings about businesses facing better financing conditions in the past year, but still not the same as before the general economic downturn. More specifically, the 2024 SAFE survey shows that nearly four in ten businesses experienced increased interest rates and almost a third with plans to grow in the next two to three years see interest rates or prices being too high as the most important limitation to accessing finance in the future. 

Moreover, six out of ten businesses reported increased costs for materials and energy, which is similar to the years before 2022. SMEs reported also decreased labour costs as well. Companies also started to perceive more availability of any type of financing, but about a third expect that this trend will change in the future. 

The survey is based on feedback concerning the economic situation from April to September 2024, collected from 16,000 European businesses, gathered through interviews carried out from September to October 2024. Over 92% of these businesses are SMEs, coming from EU27 as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway and since this year from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine. 

The results of the survey provide important evidence of the conditions European businesses face today. SAFE further affirms the Commission’s ongoing work to support businesses in the Single Market in the current economic situation. 

More information

Visit the SAFE webpage 

It includes the results for each EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, and also for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine. Results for different groups of enterprises, as well as an analytical report with detailed analysis, are also available.