SMEs in the EU

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

EUR 152 bn VAT gap points way to EU reform — 29 September 2017, 18:18 CET

The EU Commission published a report Thursday showing that EU Member States lost an estimated total of EUR 152 billion in VAT revenues in 2015, as it readies for an overhaul of the VAT system.

Innovation focus for EU's new industrial strategy — 19 September 2017, 20:41 CET

A 'smart, innovative and sustainable industry' is the goal of the EU's new industrial strategy, launched by the European Commission Monday in the wake of last week's 'state of the Union' address.

British SMEs face uncertain funding future — 14 September 2017, 19:10 CET

SMEs in Britain are increasingly concerned over their ability to gain funding in the run up to Brexit, a recent survey has revealed. The study, commissioned by specialist insurer Hiscox, has found that recent economic and political uncertainty has adversely affected business confidence, and caused concern for the future as Britain’s withdrawal from the EU becomes nearer. This should come as no surprise, as 38 percent of the 500 businesses surveyed admitted to accessing EU funding.

SMEs ask for an alternative scenario for the Future of Europe — 13 September 2017, 12:56 CET

Ahead of Jean-Claude Juncker's speech in the European Parliament on the State of the European Union, UEAPME President Ulrike Rabmer-Koller addressed the Commission President to share her considerations on the future of Europe.

SMEs call for a different approach on work-life balance — 19 July 2017, 12:02 CET

Today, at the informal Ministers' Meeting for Labour and Social affairs in Tallinn, Secretary General Véronique Willems explains why UEAPME rejects the proposal on work-life balance.

New EU insolvency rules enter in force — 27 June 2017, 22:21 CET

New rules on cross-border insolvency proceedings, first proposed in 2012 and adopted by EU legislators in 2015 to facilitate debt recovery, entered into force throughout the European Union on Monday.

Find a company — 27 June 2018, 13:43 CET

The 'Find a company' section of the European e-Justice Portal allows you to search for and access company information from the national business registers. In accordance with Directive 2012/17/EU this service is to cover the business registers of all EU countries as well as Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway. Not all of the Member States are currently connected, but more will be on board soon. If you are looking to access information and/or documents from those registers which are not yet part of the 'Find a company' page, you can find links to the respective national registers on our "General information and terms and conditions" page.

Commission Mulls Revision of SME Definition — 12 June 2017, 12:53 CET

On 8 June 2017, the European Commission published an inception impact assessment regarding a potential revision of the EU SME definition.

New agreement on EU venture capital rules to boost investment in start-ups and innovation — 31 May 2017, 12:30 CET

Yesterday evening, the EU institutions reached an agreement on a review of the EU venture capital rules, to boost investment in start-ups and innovation. This review is part of the Capital Markets Union action plan.

EU venture capital boost to help smaller firms — 31 May 2017, 01:04 CET

Better access to finance for small and growing companies and social enterprises will be the result of EU rules agreed Tuesday by the European Parliament, the Council and the EU Commission.

Tenderio gives SMEs access to billions in public funding — 29 May 2017, 14:12 CET

Following a €250,000 EU investment, a sophisticated tender platform called Tenderio will deliver huge opportunities for European SMEs, opening up the chance for them to bid for millions of Euros worth of public funding.

For successful future of Europe SMEs need better framework conditions — 23 May 2017, 21:43 CET

The Commission’s proposals to further develop the Internal Market and support Start-ups, the improvement of the framework conditions for SMEs, and the White Paper on the future of Europe were at the centre of a meeting between UEAPME President Ulrike Rabmer-Koller and Internal Market Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska today in Vienna.

Higher vocational qualifications to meet the skills needs of SMEs — 16 May 2017, 12:08 CET

In the context of the Erasmus+ project QA HiVETnet, UEAPME organised a European conference "Qualifications We Need, Quality We Want".

Retailers press for smart policy to help tackling food waste — 03 May 2017, 22:59 CET

Speaking at a debate today organised by MEP Angelique Delahaye (FR, EPP) ahead of the European Parliament vote on more ambitious action on food waste, Lettemieke Mulder, Director Sustainability & Product Policy at EuroCommerce, said:

Compliance package to boost functioning of EU Single Market — 03 May 2017, 23:58 CET

The EU Commission set out Tuesday a Single Market Compliance package, to make the European market work better for citizens and businesses, and help them make full use of its opportunities.

Single Market Compliance package: good concept undermined by flaws in approach — 02 May 2017, 23:15 CET

EUROCHAMBRES supports several measures announced in today’s European Commission new Compliance package, but expresses doubts about the overall effectiveness of the initiative in addressing the barriers that businesses encounter in the single market. Of the two main elements in the package, the Single Digital Gateway is welcomed but does not go far enough, while the Single Market Information Tool goes too far and in the wrong direction.

ESBA Press Release: Work-life balance off balance — 27 April 2017, 23:41 CET

On 26 April 2017, the European Commission published the European Pillar of Social Rights Package.

Pillar of Social rights - no solution for more growth and employment — 27 April 2017, 23:26 CET

Commenting today on the Commission’s proposals for a Pillar of Social Rights, EuroCommerce Director-General Christian Verschueren said:

The Social Pillar should better respect SME needs — 26 April 2017, 14:13 CET

In a first reaction to today's publication of the European Pillar of Social Rights Package, UEAPME shows disappointment regarding the way forward proposed by the European Commission.

About AEGIS Europe — 10 April 2017, 13:56 CET

AEGIS Europe brings together nearly 30 European associations representing a broad variety of industries including traditional industries, consumer branches, SMEs and renewable energy sectors, accounting for more than €500 billion in annual turnover and millions of jobs across the EU. This industry alliance, made up of leaders in sustainable manufacturing and social and environmental responsibility, is committed to European manufacturing as the fundamental driver of innovation, growth and jobs in Europe.

Online hotel booking under EU scrutiny — 07 April 2017, 00:18 CET

The European Commission and ten national competition authorities published a report on competition in the online hotel booking sector Thursday, highlighting the impact of antitrust enforcement measures.

EU Parliament adopts new diagnostics and medical device regulations, focus now shifts towards implementation — 05 April 2017, 23:24 CET

MedTech Europe welcomes the final vote of the European Parliament endorsing the new Regulation on In vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices (IVDR) and the new Regulation on Medical Devices (MDR). Governing two different types of essential health technologies for citizens, for example blood screening tests (in vitro diagnostics) and pacemakers (medical devices), this vote is the last step in a near eight-year process to update legislation first written in the 90s.

MEPs vote in safer, more traceable medical devices — 06 April 2017, 18:44 CET

The European Parliament gave its backing Wednesday to stricter rules on medical devices, to ensure that devices such as breast or hip implants are traceable and comply with EU patient safety requirements.

New EU rules to ensure safety of medical devices — 05 April 2017, 19:00 CET

Ranging from simple contact lenses and sticking plasters to sophisticated pacemakers and hip replacements, medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices are important to our health and quality of life. People rely on these devices every day and expect them to be safe and incorporate the latest progress in science and innovation. The current rules on the safety and performance of medical devices in the EU were harmonised in the 1990s. To reflect the substantial technological and scientific progress in this sector over the last 20 years, the European Commission proposed to update the rules to improve the safety of medical devices for EU citizens, create the conditions to modernise the sector and to consolidate its role as a global leader.

EU Council adopts shareholder rights revision — 04 April 2017, 00:04 CET

The EU Council adopted Monday a revision of the EU shareholders' rights directive, which aims to strengthen the long-term engagement of shareholders in listed European companies.