European Context of Support for Small and Medium Businesses Administration in Lithuania

Abstract

Impact of the European small and medium enterprises policy principles on the development of institutional
framework in Lithuania has been analyzed in the paper. Exploring the topic changing criteria of small and medium
enterprises in European Union has been taken into account, as well as changes of the institutions, and
stages of their development. Problems of public finance support for creating business advisory service system
have been discussed in the paper. Instruments of direct (PHARE program) and indirect (membership negotiations)
of European Union have been characterized. Author concludes that despite the increasing support for
small and medium enterprises in the amount and innovating forms, it is not sufficient for coping with market
pressure both within Community and externally.