The EIF SME Access to Finance Index - September 2020 Update

This working paper elaborates on the most recent update of the EIF SME Access to Finance (ESAF) Index, a composite indicator used to monitor the state of SME external financing markets in the 27 EU countries and the UK. The current update, using the latest available data, constitutes the seventh iteration of this exercise. The paper is used to provide some background information underlying the aggregate ESAF results. The latest available data at the time of writing refer to the year 2019, and therefore do not incorporate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on EU SME financing markets.