Brussels, 25/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - Thanks to the cooperation of the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Commission and HVB Bank Hungary Rt., Hungarian small and medium sized enterprises will benefit from support under the heading of the finance mechanism for SMEs, a special tool established by the European Commission in the framework of the PHARE programme. The operation envisaged will allow for the channelling of EUR 20 million - through present global loans (credit lines) approved by the EIB to HVB Hungary -, to selected SMEs in view of financing projects in the fields of industry, the environment, energy, infrastructures, tourism, health, education and services. This loan will benefit from European Commission support in the form of financial incentives, which will aim to promote the financing of SMEs and increase their competitiveness.