Experience in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EU countries as part of the implementation of certain Sustainable Development Goals, development of recommendations for Russia

The Sustainable Development Goals remain relevant even in crisis conditions, especially with regard to the goals of eliminating poverty, inequality, ensuring economic growth, innovation and infrastructure development. It is in their achievement that small and medium-sized enterprises can play a key role. The analysis of the experience of the EU countries in the application of entrepreneurship support measures is of particular interest for the operational adjustment of the Russian SME support policy, since they take into account not only short–term political and economic needs, but are aimed at achieving a long-term result - sustainable development.  The scientific novelty of the study lies in the analysis of foreign practices of supporting SMEs in terms of achieving certain indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN countries. The purpose of the work is to summarize the experience of supporting SMEs in the EU in the context of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. To do this, the following tasks are set: establishing the relationship between the activities of SMEs and the implementation of the SDGs; analysis of support for various target groups of entrepreneurs in the context of achieving SDGs 8-9 in the EU; analysis of anti-crisis support measures in the context of achieving SDGs 8-9 in the EU. General scientific methods are used – generalizations, comparisons, synthesis, inductive approach. The study obtained the following conclusions and results: SMEs make a great contribution to the creation of added value, generation and use of innovations, employment, and are most correlated with SDGs 8, 9; among the main support measures are traditional loans and guarantees, subsidies, public procurement, tax incentives, as well as digital platforms, improving digital skills of the population, financing research; support for vulnerable groups of entrepreneurs is carried out through the popularization of entrepreneurship, the development of entrepreneurial skills and culture, information and advisory support, access to financing, development of networks of entrepreneurs, improvement of labor legislation; development of auxiliary technologies for access to support measures; provision of premises for doing business, coaching, mentoring. Among the recommendations for Russian practice, it is necessary to note the facilitation of SMEs' access to financial resources, the popularization of entrepreneurship, the creation of networks of entrepreneurs in areas with different specifics, the training of entrepreneurs and the population in digital technologies, the provision of special benefits for doing business by vulnerable groups of the population. Research prospects: analysis of the Russian experience in supporting SMEs in the context of the SDGs and generalization of the most effective practices in order to form an effective policy.