SMEs in the EU

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

Skills shortages 'a serious problem' for majority of EU SMEs — 14 November 2023, 17:51 CET

Skills shortages are one of the most serious problems for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the EU, according to a new Eurobarometer survey released on Tuesday.

75.8m employed by EU's micro & small businesses — 09 November 2023, 22:56 CET

In 2021, 98 per cent of the EU's 31 million enterprises were micro and small businesses employing 75.8 million people, or half the total number employed, the EU statistics agency Eurostat reported Thursday.

Europe must deliver on improving business environment — 26 October 2023, 18:44 CET

"SMEs are anchored in their local community and hence much more affected by local business conditions", stated SMEunited President Petri Salminen at the Tripartite Social Summit.

SME demands for profitable investment environment Labour shortage and realistic transition pathways to be top of the EU agenda — 13 October 2023, 00:16 CET

The SMEunited Board of Directors in Graz, Austria exchanged with Commissioner Schmit on one of the top priorities of SMEs: finding skilled staff. Furthermore they presented the key demands for next years' EU elections: putting law into practice in a realistic way to safeguard their global competitiveness.

EU green light for better protection from asbestos — 03 October 2023, 18:35 CET

The European Parliament gave its green light Tuesday to new rules to protect EU workers from the health risks related to asbestos and to improve the early detection of asbestos.

New EU SME Relief package to tackle late payments — 13 September 2023, 00:08 CET

The European Commission presented Tuesday a series of initiatives to ease current pressures on smaller businesses (SMEs), including cutting paperwork, simplifying taxes and ensuring they are paid in due time.

SME Relief Package: basis for more room to do business — 12 September 2023, 19:03 CET

SMEunited welcomes the publication of the SME Relief Package, which indeed provides certain relief to SMEs. While fostering liquidity through stronger legislation on late payment and the reinforcement of the SME window is fundamental to ensure SMEs' investment capacity, reducing regulatory burden and building the bridge between available training and SMEs' needs should further positively impact entrepreneurial resources.

Digital coordination of social security systems in Europe - guide — 06 September 2023, 18:33 CET

The European Commission proposed on 6 September concrete steps to further digitalise the coordination of social security systems in Europe. In a dedicated Communication, it lays out actions to make access to social security services quicker and simpler across borders by making full use of digital tools, reducing administrative burden for citizens and business.

Brussels boost for activities of cross-border associations in the EU — 06 September 2023, 18:57 CET

The European Commission adopted a proposal Tuesday to remove legal and administrative barriers for non-profit associations that operate or wish to operate in more than one EU Member State.

Business bankruptcies in EU at highest level since 2015 — 28 August 2023, 21:19 CET

The number of bankruptcies declared by EU businesses in the second quarter of 2023 reached the highest level since the start of the data collection in 2015, the EU's statistical office Eurostat reported Thursday.

Commission undermines standards for corporate sustainability reporting under industry pressure — 01 August 2023, 01:05 CET

The European Commission published today a Delegated Act on the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) that puts a significant dent into the hope that investors and other users of information will have access to reliable and comparable sustainability data from companies. This is necessary to steer the economy towards a path that is compatible with our planetary boundaries.

Brussels adopts European Sustainability Reporting Standards — 01 August 2023, 00:57 CET

The EU Commission adopted Monday the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) for use by all companies subject to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Adoption of European Sustainability Reporting Standards - guide — 01 August 2023, 00:51 CET

The European Commission adopted on 31 July the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) for use by all companies subject to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

EU to step up protection of children from unsafe toys — 29 July 2023, 00:20 CET

The EU Commission proposed a Toy Safety Regulation Friday which revises current rules to protect children from potential risks in toys, with improved protection from harmful hormone-disrupting chemicals.

Brussels opens antitrust probe into Microsoft Teams and Office bundling — 29 July 2023, 00:20 CET

The Commission opened a formal investigation Thursday into whether Microsoft breached EU competition rules by bundling its Teams collaboration product to business suites Office 365 and Microsoft 365.

SME State of the Union: call for a strong SME Relief Package — 13 July 2023, 17:24 CET

SMEunited welcomes the united call of the European Parliament Plenary session for concrete measures to ensure a regulatory framework in which SMEs can develop their businesses. Two months ahead of the publication of the SME Relief Package, the adopted resolution sets the tone for efficient legislation.

Retail and wholesale welcome Parliament mandate on Eco-design — 12 July 2023, 23:22 CET

EuroCommerce - the association representing retailers and wholesalers in Europe - supports the European Parliament’s draft report on Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation which will be voted on for final approval in plenary on 12 July.

Europe's innovation performance still strong — 06 July 2023, 22:29 CET

Despite recent crises, EU Member States and their regions kept improving their innovation performance in 2023, according to the European Innovation Scoreboard published Thursday.

Retailers and wholesalers weigh in on waste framework directive: Request harmonisation for textiles and action by everyone linked to food waste — 06 July 2023, 00:27 CET

Today, the European Commission published a proposal for a revision of textiles and food waste aspects of the EU Waste Framework Directive. Retailers and wholesalers see the update of the waste legislation as necessary to enable the sustainable transformation of their sector and to achieve the objectives of the Green Deal.

Rule of law in the EU is a key asset for investment protection and competition — 06 July 2023, 00:23 CET

The Commission published its fourth Rule of Law report. This report will help the Commission to enter into conversations with Member States and discuss existing Rule of Law issues.

Digital Euro: Retailers and wholesalers generally supportive but have crucial concerns — 29 June 2023, 23:03 CET

As the legislative proposal to enable the digital euro was published on 28 June, and the investigation phase of the digital euro is progressing towards a decision later in 2023, the retail and wholesale sector voices its general support while also highlighting some key concerns.

SMEunited launches "SME claims" analysis — 28 June 2023, 23:00 CET

SMEunited launches "SME claims" analysis to review decision-makers’ claims and will call for alteration if claims cannot be concretised.

EU proposals focus on consumer needs for the future of digital payments and finance — 28 June 2023, 23:00 CET

The European Commission published an ambitious package of measures today that have the potential to improve consumer conditions in payments and digitalised financial services. There are proposals on a digital Euro (while maintaining access to cash), steps to tackle payment fraud and on protecting consumers' data in Open Finance.

EU payment services update to boost fintech innovation — 03 July 2023, 00:31 CET

The EU Commission put forward proposals Wednesday to modernise payments services and the financial sector to include enhanced protection for consumers making electronic payments in the EU.

SME priorities for European Elections 2024 — 11 June 2023, 00:32 CET

SME representatives from across Europe agreed on their priorities for the 2024 European elections at the SMEunited General Assembly in Stockholm today. The European Institutions must consider the specific characteristics of small- and medium-sized companies to let them drive the green and digital transition, say SMEunited members.