Decent Work & Economic Growth

Are you a young entrepreneur? Are you looking for support and funding? Are you lost in a vast sea of information?

No need to get disheartened! The Europe Direct of the Region of Crete is here to guide you through the tempest! The Europe Direct Region of Crete and the Development Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Crete have jointed forces towards an initiative that will help seasoned and green entrepreneurs to take advantage of the opportunities for funding and support offered by the European Union. Do you have the same questions as we do? Let's solve them together!

1) I missed my chance to participate to the Erasmus+ programme
when I was younger. Can I still try it? Yes! Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is a cross-border exchange programme which offers young or ambitious entrepreneurs the opportunity to gain knowledge from experienced entrepreneurs who run small businesses in one of the participating countries. Young entrepreneurs are defined as those who are planning to start their own business or have already started their own business within the last three years. Visit the following link: here to see how to take advantage of the programme or scan the QR code.

2) I want to be able to make my business more environmentally friendly. What tools does the European Union offer me to help me out? 

If you want your business to grow in a sustainable way, you can improve and monitor your company's environmental performance through the EU's Eco- management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). Learn about the benefits of EMAS and the requirements for registration under EMAS. Visit the following link: here

3) I want to expand my business to other countries in the European union. What tools does the EU can offer me?

If you plan to expand your business across borders, you could consider setting up a European Company: this is a type of public limited company governed by EU law and gives you several advantages, such as: 

A) Simplicity when doing business in more than one EU country - Greater mobility in the single market

B) Opportunity to create a framework for involving staff based in more than one country in the business management 

C) . If you own a European company, you can set up one or more subsidiaries that are also European companies. 

Visit the following link: (here)  to see how you can take advantage of it.

4) I have just set up my own business and would like to get EU funding, but I don't know where to start! What should I do? 

The Access2Finance online search tool helps businesses find loans or venture capital supported by the European Union in Greece and/or other EU countries. Visit the following link: (here) to see how you can take advantage of it or scan the QR code.

5) I have a business and want to expand into other markets, but I don't know anything about taxes, rules of origin and other unknown words! Where should I look? 

The European Commission's free, multilingual, registration-free tool, Access2Markets, offers businesses all the information they need to know about exporting and importing, including information on taxes, tariffs, rules of origin, product requirements and much more, in an accessible and easy-to-use format. Go to the following link: (here)  to see how you can use it.

6) I always had my head in the clouds, so I decided to start a business dealing with space activities. How can the EU support me? We got you covered! The Cassini Initiative supports entrepreneurship in space-related businesses across the European Union. Visit the following link:  (here) to see how you can take advantage of it .

7) I am considering expanding my business activities to other EU Member States and beyond. I need guidance and advice. Who can help me? The Enterprise Europe Network helps SMEs to innovate and grow internationally, by providing advice and turning innovative ideas into commercial successes, and by connecting SMEs with international business partners. Visit the following link: here to see how you can take advantage of it.

8) I am an investor, and I want to work with other investors in the EU. Where should I start? 

The InvestEU Portal brings together investors and project implementation companies on a single pan-European platform. Visit the following link:  (here) to see how you can take advantage of it .

9) I own a business. Can I undertake a project on behalf of European Union?

 The TED eTendering e-procurement platform providing access to calls for
tender published by the EU institutions, agencies and other bodies. Visit the following link: (here) to see how you can take advantage of it or scan the QR code.

10) I have an SME and I need financing. How can the EU help me?
The Ideas Powered for business SME Fund is a grant scheme designed to help EU SMEs protect their intellectual property rights. Go to the following link: (here) to see how you can take advantage of it .

11) I have created a high-tech start-up and want to develop it further. How can the EU help me achieve my goals?

Startup Europe increases networking opportunities between high-tech startups, scalable businesses, investors, accelerators, corporate networks, universities and media. The Startup Europe Partnership is an integrated pan-European open innovation platform that helps the best EU startups to grow. Visit the following link: (here) to see how you can take advantage of it or scan the QR code.