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Financial liberalisation has led to a large increase in the number of sources of finance for companies. The question is whether all companies have access to these various instruments. The aim of this article is to identify these characteristics as a function of size of company for the European countries. Following a survey of the literature, we go on to examine the determinants of the financial structure of European companies (Part I). Using the Biais, Hillion et Malécot (1995) model, we then examine in Part II the breakdown between these various sources of finance from 1989 to 1998. Finally, we enquire into the complementarity or substitutability of these various methods as a function of the size of company (Part III). Part IV sets out the conclusions.