Transcript Communication on New Aspects of SME Policy in the Context

A Small Business Act for Europe
Podgorica, 26 May 2008
Edward TERSMETTE
SMEs facts and figures
 23 million SMEs in European Union
 99% of all EU enterprises
 57% of the Union's total economic added value
 75 million jobs (67% of private employment)
 SMEs = highly flexible structures
…but Europe still lacks entrepreneurship
Lisbon Agenda
 Renewed Lisbon strategy: Partnership for Growth
and Jobs (2005)
 Integrated guidelines for Growth and Jobs
 Community Lisbon programme
 27 National Reform Programmes + implementation
reports
 Annual progress report including country-specific
recommendations
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2006 Spring European Council
 Priority action: Unlocking the business potential,
especially of SMEs

Start up procedures (less than 7 days, use of one- stopshops)

Entrepreneurship education

Recruitment of 1st employee

“Think Small First”

Public procurement
 Review at the end of 2007
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Modern SME Policy for Growth and
Employment
 Coherent framework for SME policy
 Inclusive of all types of SMEs
 Main achievements (mid-term review):
 Progress of « Think Small First » at EU level
e.g. State aid rules, FP7, REACH, CIP
 Progress in the field of better regulation
 Initiatives to encourage entrepreneurship
 Regular dialogue with stakeholders
 Announcement of a « Small Business Act »
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A “Small Business Act” for Europe
 Spring European Summit – March 13-14, 2008
 SBA to reinforce the Union’s SME policy and to allow
SMEs operate more effectively in the Single Market.
 Objectives
 Anchor the “Think Small First” in policy making
 Encourage SME growth and competitiveness
 Set principles and concrete measures
Policy areas
 Simplify the regulatory framework
 Improve SMEs’ access to single market
 Ensure better access for SMEs to public procurement
 Improve SMEs access to finance and innovation
 Promote entrepreneurship, skills and mobility
 Help SMEs’ to go global
Public consultation
 From end January until end March 2008
 Over 500 replies from enterprises, SME organisations and
public authorities.
 Reducing administrative burden the first priority among
stakeholders.
 Other areas where action is needed: access to finace,
taxation, skills, public procurement, labour law.
 The report on the public consultation available on-line.
Next steps
 Adoption foreseen in July.
 The French presidency will discuss the SBA and adopt
formal conclusions in the Competitiveness Council in
December, 2008.
More information
 SBA
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/entrepreneurship/sba_en.htm
 SME-portal
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sme/index.htm