EU SME strategy

Full attention must be given to SME needs in the design of the EU flagship initiatives: the single market for goods and services, the digital single market, the European Investment Plan, the Capital Markets Union, the trade negotiations and the EU regulatory reform.

The implementation of the Small Business Act should move up a gear so that innovative pro-SME measures are deployed on a larger front at national level, based on strategic orientations discussed at EU level.

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Unleashing the growth and job-creation potential of SMEs

It is not sufficient that member states work on improving the SME business environment in a purely isolated national context. Member states should also exchange best policy practices, in the areas of skills and access to finance for example.

Cooperating for upgrading policies was the purpose of the Small Business Act (SBA) adopted by the member states and the European Commission in 2008. This pro-SME action agenda has delivered encouraging results. There is scope for getting even more out of it. The Commission should propose an initiative in 2016 for strengthening the SBA.

Publications

Speeches Date
How to get more SMEs taking advantage of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) - Intervention by Anna-Lena Bohm at 2018 European SME Assembly (Graz, 20-21 November 2018) 21/11/2018
Single market for SMEs: operating in global value chains and the importance of compliance, enforcement and surveillance - Speech by Marta Marti at the Single Market Forum 2016/2017 closing conference 19/06/2017
COSME interim evaluation - Speaking points for Daniel Cloquet at the European Commission workshop 31/05/2017
Transfers of SMEs in Europe: taking stock of progress of European policy and preparing for the challenges ahead – Speaking points for Marta Marti Carrera at the TRANSEO summit on SME transfers 24/05/2016
What future for EU SME policy? - Speaking points by Marta Marti Carrera at the SME round table organised by the EESC Employers' Group 05/04/2016
A renewed single market strategy - Address by Marta Marti Carrera at the meeting of the SME Envoys network 22/09/2015
The Green Employment Initiative: tapping into the job creation potential of the green economy - Contribution by Daniel Cloquet at the European Parliament Employment Committee hearing 24/03/2015
BusinessEurope vision of EU policy for entrepreneurship in regions of Europe - Presentation by Daniel Cloquet at the LDDK conference "Entrepreneurship in regions to strengthen the European Union competitiveness", Cesis (Latvia) 18/02/2015
A revised Small Business Act (SBA) supporting growth through enterprise - Address by Marta Marti Carrera at the European SME Assembly, Naples 03/10/2014
Meeting of the SME Envoys Network, Madrid - Comments by Marta Marti 06/06/2014
Position papers Date
Declaration of European SME Envoys and business organisations on the visibility of European support for SMEs in the next Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF) 13/04/2018
Proposed amendment to VAT treatment of SMEs 20/03/2018
Revision of the EU definition of SMEs: key elements for a sound approach - BusinessEurope position paper 07/11/2017
Interim evaluation of COSME, the EU programme for SME competitiveness - BusinessEurope's comments 30/06/2017
Special scheme for small enterprises under the VAT directive - BusinessEurope's reply to the public consultation 20/03/2017
BusinessEurope’s response to the Commission consultation under the Start-up Initiative 20/07/2016
A horizontal EU SME policy - Joint declaration by BusinessEurope, UEAPME, EUROCHAMBRES, EuroCommerce, CEEP and copa-cogeca 05/04/2016
Unleashing the growth and job-creation potential of SMEs - a BusinessEurope strategy paper 15/12/2014
Preparation of a European Commission Green Action Plan for SMEs - BusinessEurope contribution to the European Commission online consultation 10/12/2013
BusinessEurope's comments on the Commission discussion paper (July 2013) on further developing the EU SME policy 30/08/2013
Entrepreneurship 2020 action plan - BusinessEurope response to the European Commission questionnaire 01/10/2012
BusinessEurope position on the Commission proposed programme on competitiveness of enterprise and SMEs (COSME) 04/04/2012
Press releases Date
EU needs stronger policy for small and medium-sized enterprises 18/11/2015
We need a renewed and strengthened EU policy for crafts and SMEs - Joint statement by BusinessEurope and UEAPME 18/11/2015
Europe must unleash the entrepreneurial potential of its citizens 09/01/2013
Public letters Date
Revision of the European Small Business Act (SBA) - Joint letter to Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission 09/04/2015
Reports and studies Date
TTIP – What's in it for small and medium-sized enterprises 22/01/2015

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What do SMEs expect from the future EU SME policy?

In a fast changing economic and societal context, what shape should the EU SME policy take during the next EU political cycle? 

Europe’s 24 million SMEs are one of its biggest assets to address the accelerated pace of economic and societal challenges. At this conference,...

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Last updated: 14 September 2015