This report presents the main results of the eighth round of the survey on the access to finance of small and medium-sized enterprises in the euro area (SAFE), conducted between 18 February and 21 March 2013 on behalf of the European Central Bank (ECB). The total sample size for the euro area was 7,510 firms, of which 6,960 (93%) had less than 250 employees.1 The report provides evidence mainly on the change in the financial situation, financing needs and access to external financing of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the euro area, compared with large firms. In addition, it provides an overview of developments in SMEs’ access to finance across euro area countries. The reference period is the preceding six months, i.e. the period from October 2012 to March 2013.2
