SME policy responses to the 2022/2023 energy crisis

This paper takes stock of one year policy responses to the 2022/2023 energy crisis triggered by Russia’s war aggression against Ukraine from perspective small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In this paper, “SME responses” are defined as all government policies, whether SME-specific or not, which have lowered affected in other way price electricity natural gas paid SMEs. The discusses three broad categories related approaches implemented across countries: price-support measures; income-support complementary policies fostering green transition. Overall, while emergency measures were initially centred on energy-intensive sectors, a larger number SMEs was eventually covered governments ramped up scale scope their action due protraction Russian Ukraine. Going forward, wholesale prices return pre-war levels, should be withdrawn. Income support could used some cases help companies deal with still high retail prices, but main focus shift towards that improve efficiency environmental performance