Small & Medium Enterprises
Chairwoman: Ms Betty van Arenthals
Adviser: Mr Julius Witteveen
Assistant: Ms Géraldine Verbrugghe
"Today's Small Business Act is a step towards a Europe of entrepreneurs, with
less red tape and more red carpet for Europe's 23 million SMEs. [...] It will mean
more responsive public administrations, less late payment of invoices, access to
more help with finance, innovation and training, lower VAT for services supplied
locally and better access to public procurement contracts."
José Manuel Barroso, European Commission President, "Putting Small Businesses First", 2008
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly recognised as the backbone of the European economy. However, EuroCommerce believes that there is still much to be done to improve the framework conditions for SMEs. In 2008 a study undertaken for the Commission revealed that of the 13,200 directives and regulations currently in force and in all EU programmes relevant to business, only 0.3% contained SMEs specific measures.
EuroCommerce is committed to turning this unsatisfactory situation around with thorough monitoring, strong and timely input and the application of pressure through lobbying. To introduce the new 2009 Parliament and Commission to the world of European SMEs, EuroCommerce will prepare a short document listing our main aims for 2009-2014.
For further information, please see also: