To keep small and medium sized businesses afloat, the EU released emergency funding in the form of favourable loans and guarantees.

It also made the rules on obtaining support from existing European funds more flexible, so that more companies could benefit faster. And to cover employee wages and pensions during the downturn in business, Croatian SMEs received almost €800 million in grants.

This meant that many companies could avoid staff layoffs or having to close their doors for good.

More than 100,000 businesses in Croatia received EU financial support. This has helped preserve almost 650,000 jobs since the start of the crisis, including hundreds at Ravna wood works, Color Emajl metal works and the MarijanaTrade fishing business.

However, businesses across the country are acutely aware that the pandemic isn’t over yet. In order to recover from the crisis, they agree that job security is paramount.

EU support has helped many small businesses overcome the immediate crisis. However, the Union’s long-term recovery plan will lay the foundations for a modern and more sustainable Europe. By focusing on the green and digital transition, the EU will build a stronger economy and more resilient society, able to pull through the next crisis.