Private sector actors see development as a battlefield. The Green Paper foresees an important role for the private sector in EU development policy. There are many opportunities, but also some huge battles, may occur on a number of fronts.
The "missing middle" remains key problem in financing small companies in developing countries. Most SMEs in African countries are constrained by finance difficulties and do not have access to the finance they need.
The European Union supports future Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with West Africa. Based on the Aid for Trade and economic integration in West Africa (PAPED), a support of € 6.6 billion is reserved for the next five years.
