Brussels, 23/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - Improving access to finance for small businesses will be the key theme of a conference on "Financing SMEs - the European approach" in Louvain-la-Neuve on 24 and 25 October 2001. The conference is organised by the EU's Belgian Presidency in cooperation with the European Commission, with a view to the Industry Council of 5 December. Speakers will include: Guy Verhofstadt, President of the European Council; Serge Kubla, Walloon Economy Minister and President of the EU Council; and Commissioners Philippe Busquin (Research), Erkki Liikanen (Enterprise and Information Society) and Mario Monti (competition). The conference is aimed at identifying the financing problems, sharing experience and diffusing good practices regarding access to funding. The following themes in particular will be covered: - the effect that increased competition will have on loans to SME; - the way to ensure financing of young innovative firms; - and the way to profitably extend small loans to very small companies. (For further information: http://www.kubla2001.be ).