:-)

"The European Commission has proposed a €100 million ($140 million) loan plan to offer small loans to unemployed people who want to start new businesses.
The EU executive says it is urging other lending institutions like the European Investment Bank to join the project and boost the loan fund to €500 million ($702 million).

The micro credit plan announced Thursday is part of new efforts to tackle the economic crisis and rising jobless rates.

EU officials say they expect 3.5 million people will lose their jobs across the 27-nation bloc this year. They say the loans will help offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to create new companies and jobs. The Commission says it hopes to offer 45,000 loans through the project over the next eight years, if approved by EU governments."
July 2009