SMEs in the EU

News and information about the European Union's policies for small and medium-sized businesses.

SMEunited insists: Think small first and build on Letta report to act — 18 April 2024, 23:50 CET

SMEunited joins the call from Heads of State and Government to apply the "think small first" principle when designing policy. Strengthening EU competitiveness must be a priority. Enrico Letta’s report on the Single Market addresses pressing points with concrete roadmap to guarantee Europe’s sovereignty and SMEs role in it.

Retail & wholesale: What the EU needs to succeed — 17 April 2024, 23:46 CET

With the right support, retailers and wholesalers have huge potential to help deliver a more competitive, empowered, sustainable, innovative and skilled EU, as highlighted by EuroCommerce’s new manifesto.

SMEs call for adequate economic environment to deliver on social progress — 16 April 2024, 18:50 CET

High Level Conference discussed the future of the European Pillar of Social Rights

New opportunities emerge for grocery retailers with signs of hope for 2024 — 10 April 2024, 23:49 CET

For the European grocery sector, 2023 was again all about inflation. Consumers tightened their purse strings, which led to a drop in volume and significant downtrading. Industry growth (8.6%) was significantly below food price inflation (12.8%).

MEPs edge towards mainstreaming responsible business conduct — 20 March 2024, 00:06 CET

Today, the European Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) approved the final agreement on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). The approved final text reflects the significant dilution that the EU Member States endorsed a few days earlier, breaking the agreement they themselves had reached with the Parliament in December.

MEPs approve 'due diligence' bill on firms' impact on environment — 19 March 2024, 20:49 CET

A European Parliament committee gave its approval Tuesday to a bill, agreed with EU governments, which requires firms to mitigate their negative impact on the environment and human rights.

Social investments should support reforms and growth — 11 March 2024, 21:19 CET

“A number of reforms are crucial to recreate a positive economic spiral for SMEs, to improve the welfare of European citizens and deliver on social objectives.

EU tightens data rules for short-term rentals — 01 March 2024, 23:42 CET

The European Parliament adopted harmonised requirements Thursday on how data related to short-term rental services such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia should be collected and shared.

New WTO rules to simplify services trade in force — 27 February 2024, 23:03 CET

Trade in services received a boost Tuesday with the entry into force of new World Trade Organization rules aimed at facilitating and simplifying global trade in services.

23 pct of EU enterprises engaged in online sales in 2022 — 26 February 2024, 23:17 CET

22.9 per cent of EU enterprises conducted sales online in 2022, according to figures released Monday by Eurostat, 0.1 per cent higher compared with 2021 and 6.5% higher that in 2012 (16.4%).

Substantiating Green Claims: Retailers and wholesalers call for practicality — 14 February 2024, 23:42 CET

Today, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection adopted their draft report on the Substantiating Green Claims Directive proposal.

Single Market Report: High time to turn good intentions into concrete action, say Europe's retailers and wholesalers — 14 February 2024, 23:39 CET

Today, the European Commission published its Annual Single Market and Competitiveness Report about the state of EU competitiveness and the Single Market.

MEPs look to bring an end to greenwashing claims — 16 February 2024, 19:49 CET

A European Parliament committee adopted new rules Wednesday on how firms can validate environmental marketing claims, and the information they need to provide to justify these claims.

Euro money transfers to arrive 'within ten seconds' — 08 February 2024, 00:11 CET

The European Parliament adopted new rules Wednesday to ensure transferred funds arrive immediately into the bank accounts of retail customers and businesses across the EU.

Clearing package deal boost for EU capital markets — 08 February 2024, 00:01 CET

The European Parliament and EU Council reached political agreement Wednesday on new rules to help make EU clearing services more attractive and robust and preserve financial stability.

SMEs call for investment certainty and assistance — 07 February 2024, 00:06 CET

"To make climate policy a win-win for planet and SMEs, a net emission climate target for 2040 should be set in due time, to ensure planning stability and investment certainty. It must be robust and feasible for our economy and society", said SMEunited's Secretary General Véronique Willems.

EU Council and Parliament agree new stock listings act — 02 February 2024, 23:09 CET

The EU institutions reached provisional agreement Thursday on a package to make EU public capital markets more attractive for EU companies and easier for companies to list on European stock exchanges.

SMEunited calls for social dialogue to adapt to changes in working life — 31 January 2024, 19:00 CET

"SMEs have played a significant role in the creation of economic wealth, jobs and social cohesion. We entrepreneurs hear the ambitious objectives for social Europe and whilst reaffirming our support, we call for a serious commitment from the European Commission and the Member States to re-create a positive economic spiral on our continent, and show that Europe is a continent where business and social standards go hand in hand", stated SMEunited President Petri Salminen at the Val Duchesse Summit.

Make the Green Deal deliver for SMEs — 30 January 2024, 18:51 CET

Entrepreneurs shared their stories about boosters and blockers for the Green Deal implementation with Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra in today's SME Climate Dialogue with SMEunited.

Economic Security Package: EuroCommerce asks for cautious approach to guard the competitiveness of businesses in Europe — 24 January 2024, 23:49 CET

The European Commission is addressing increasing geopolitical tensions, geo-economic fragmentation and technological shifts that are posing challenges for the European economy and Europe's economic security in a new Economic Security Package issued today.

EU launches support package for Artificial Intelligence startups, SMEs — 25 January 2024, 22:56 CET

The EU Commission launched a package of measures Wednesday to support European startups and SMEs in development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that is 'trustworthy' and 'respects EU values'.

EuroCommerce urges European Commission to take action against French rules on B2B commercial relations — 14 December 2023, 22:30 CET

EuroCommerce has lodged a formal complaint with the European Commission against the Loi n° 2023-221 du 30 mars 2023 (also known as Egalim 3 or 'Loi Descrozaille') adopted by the French Parliament earlier this year.

Europe must facilitate SMEs to drive the transition — 01 December 2023, 18:56 CET

The green and digital transition will be driven in Europe by SMEs. They must be able to develop and invest, which requires Europe to be an attractive place for private investments. SMEunited members decided "SMEs driving the transitions" should be at the centre of demands for the upcoming elections to the European Parliament and the next European Commission.

Protection of European craft and industrial products enters into force — 16 November 2023, 21:51 CET

The Craft and Industrial Geographical Indication (CIGI) Regulation entered into force Thursday, marking a key milestone in the protection of the names of European craft and industrial products.

EU strikes deal on short-term rentals rules — 17 November 2023, 16:55 CET

Parliament and Council negotiators reached provisional agreement Thursday on a draft regulation on data collection and sharing for short-term accommodation rental services such as Airbnb.