SMEs in the EU

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

Access to finance for SMEs — 02 May 2013, 17:57 CET

A joint European Commission - European Investment Bank Group report on the activities facilitating access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in 2012 was presented at a meeting of the SME Finance Forum, on the eve of an Informal Competitiveness Council on 2 and 3 May in Dublin. European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, responsible for Enterprise and Industrial policy, also launched a new single online portal for all EU financial instruments for SMEs as well a web-based information guide for SME stock listings, to promote SME listings and stimulate investors’ interest in SMEs and mid-caps.

Access to EU finance — 02 May 2013, 17:49 CET

This site will help you to apply for finance supported by the European Union. To access EU finance, click on your country to locate banks or venture capital funds that provide finance supported by the EU.

EC moves to cut legal red tape — 24 April 2013, 18:28 CET

The European Commission is proposing to slash red tape for citizens and businesses by doing away with bureaucratic rubber-stamping exercises which are currently required to get public documents, such as your birth certificate, recognised as authentic in another EU Member State. Currently, citizens who move to another Member State have to spend a lot of time and money in order to demonstrate that their public documents (such as birth or marriage certificates) issued by their Member State of origin are authentic. This involves the so-called 'Apostille' certificate which is used by public authorities in other states as proof that public documents, or the signatures of national officials on documents, are genuine. Businesses operating across EU borders in the EU’s Single Market are also affected. For instance, they will often be required to produce a number of certified public documents in order to prove their legal status when operating cross-border. These requirements date from an era when countries would only trust a public document if it came from the foreign office of another country. However, just as we trust in each other's court judgements, we should be able to trust a Member State's Registry Office issuing birth certificates, without needing their foreign office, justice ministry, or other authorities to vouch for them. Today, the European Commission is therefore proposing to scrap the 'Apostille' stamp and a further series of arcane administrative requirements for certifying public documents for people living and working in other Member States.

Disclosure of non-financial and diversity information by certain large companies and groups (proposal to amend Accounting Directives) — 16 April 2013, 17:17 CET

The European Commission has proposed an amendment to existing accounting legislation in order to improve the transparency of certain large companies on social and environmental matters. Companies concerned will need to disclose information on policies, risks and results as regards environmental matters, social and employee-related aspects, respect for human rights, anti-corruption and bribery issues, and diversity on the boards of directors.

Simpler accounting requirements for small companies — 10 April 2013, 00:17 CET

The European Parliament and Council of the EU have agreed new, simpler accounting requirements for the preparation of financial information. It is hoped this will result in a reduction in the administrative burden for small companies (SMEs).

Modernisation of the European Trade Mark System — 27 March 2013, 15:42 CET

The European Commission has presented a package of initiatives to make trade mark registration systems all over the European Union cheaper, quicker, more reliable and predictable. The proposed reform would improve conditions for businesses to innovate and to benefit from more effective trade mark protection against counterfeits, including fake goods in transit through the EU's territory.

Late Payments Directive — 12 March 2013, 14:21 CET

By 16 March 2013 EU Member States will need to have integrated the revised Late Payments Directive into their national law. It obliges public authorities to pay for goods and services within 30 calendar days or, in very exceptional circumstances, within 60 days. Businesses should pay their invoices within 60 calendar days, unless they expressly agree otherwise and if it is not grossly unfair to the creditor.

Business confidence declines further as recession spreads, survey finds — 12 March 2013, 13:54 CET

European SMEs’ confidence declined for the fourth semester in a row as a downturn due to a sluggish internal demand is feeding through all Member States, according to a survey conducted by UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation, and its members.

Consultation : "Which are the TOP10 most burdensome EU legislative acts for SMEs?" — 07 March 2013, 18:10 CET

In the Report on “Minimizing regulatory burden for SMEs - Adapting EU regulation to the needs of micro-enterprises” (COM (2011) 803 final), the European Commission announced that it would create a dedicated webpage to identify the TOP 10 EU legislative acts considered to place burdens on micro companies and SMEs. This will be used to make focused and tailor-made revisions of these legislative acts. The identification of the most burdensome pieces of EU legislation was carried out in two steps. In the first stage, a consultation was run through the European Enterprise Network (EEN). Its results were used as a basis for the next consultation, the last phase of the exercise.

Ten most burdensome EU laws for SMEs — 07 March 2013, 17:03 CET

In a broad consultation initiated by the European Commission, around 1,000 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and business organisations have now identified the top 10 most burdensome EU laws. The purpose of this broad consultation was to check where EU regulation might be impeding jobs and growth and to identify areas or issues which would require further examination and action where necessary.

Capital requirements: SMEs welcome deal to transpose "Basel III" rules in the EU — 28 February 2013, 13:30 CET

UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers' organisation, warmly welcomed the agreement reached between the EU institutions last night on the implementation in the Union of the "Basel III" rules on capital requirements.

Data protection: SMEs welcome vote at ITRE Committee, urge LIBE to follow — 20 February 2013, 22:14 CET

UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation, welcomed today’s vote at the European Parliament’s Industry Committee (ITRE) on the revised data protection regulation.

Data protection: it’s not about Facebook, it’s about us, SMEs tell Parliament — 19 February 2013, 11:23 CET

UEAPME speaks at SME Intergroup; warns against extending to all SMEs the obligation to nominate a data protection officer

European Retail Action Plan and Green Paper on unfair trading practices in the business-to-business food and non-food supply chain — 31 January 2013, 18:15 CET

The European Commission has adopted a European Retail Action Plan and a Green Paper on unfair trading practices in the business-to-business food and non-food supply chain. The retail and wholesale services sector is seen as one of the most important in the EU economy and should play an important part in stimulating growth and job creation under the Europe 2020 strategy. It accounts for 11% of EU GDP and 29% of European SMEs and employs nearly 33 million people, offering job opportunities in particular for young people, women and people with lower skill levels or qualifications. However, a number of barriers remain that hinder the smooth functioning of cross-border sourcing, consumer access to cross-border retail services and market entry for retailers.

Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan sets right priorities, say SMEs — 09 January 2013, 13:53 CET

UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers' organisation, welcomed the "Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan" unveiled today (Tuesday) by the European Commission. According to UEAPME, the action plan sets out the right priorities to put entrepreneurship back on the agenda, giving Member States a clear signal to act in this respect.

Entrepreneurship Action Plan — 09 January 2013, 13:48 CET

The Entrepreneurship Action Plan is a blueprint for decisive action to unleash Europe's entrepreneurial potential, to remove existing obstacles and to revolutionise the culture of entrepreneurship in Europe. Investments in changing the public perception of entrepreneurs, in entrepreneurship education and to support groups that are underrepresented among entrepreneurs are indispensable if we want to create enduring change. Only if a large number of Europeans recognise an entrepreneurial career as a rewarding and attractive option will entrepreneurial activity in Europe thrive in the long term.

European Insolvency Law — 13 December 2012, 19:21 CET

European Insolvency Law is laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1346/2000 on insolvency proceedings (the "Insolvency Regulation"), which has applied since 31 May 2002. The Regulation contains rules on jurisdiction, recognition and applicable law and provides for the coordination of insolvency proceedings opened in several EU Member States. The Regulation applies whenever the debtor has assets or creditors in more than one Member State.

New European approach to business failure and insolvency — 13 December 2012, 17:32 CET

Businesses hit by the economic crisis will be thrown a lifeline under a new proposal from the European Commission today to modernise Europe’s rules on cross-border business insolvency, helping to give otherwise viable businesses a ‘second chance’. The Commission is proposing to modernise the current rules on cross border insolvency which date from 2000. Benefiting from ten years of experience, the new rules will shift focus away from liquidation and develop a new approach to helping businesses overcome financial difficulties, while at the same time protecting the right of creditors to get their money back.

Company Law and Corporate Governance — 12 December 2012, 17:09 CET

Harmonisation of the rules relating to company law and corporate governance, as well as to accounting and auditing, is seen as essential for creating an EU Single Market for Financial Services and products. In the fields of company law and corporate governance, objectives include: providing equivalent protection for shareholders and other parties concerned with companies; ensuring freedom of establishment for companies throughout the EU; fostering efficiency and competitiveness of business; promoting cross-border cooperation between companies in different EU Member States; and stimulating discussions between Member States on the modernisation of company law and corporate governance.

Action Plan on European company law and corporate governance — 12 December 2012, 17:09 CET

The European Commission has adopted an Action Plan outlining future initiatives in the areas of company law and corporate governance.

EU patent: SMEs welcome unitary system, urge Italy and Spain to join — 11 December 2012, 17:41 CET

UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers' organisation, warmly welcomed the votes at the Competitiveness Council yesterday (Monday) and at the European Parliament today (Tuesday) paving the way to a unitary patent system in the EU.

Single European Patent — 11 December 2012, 14:24 CET

EU inventors will soon be able to get a unitary patent at last. After over 30 years of talks, the European Parliament put its stamp to a new regime which will cut the cost of an EU patent by up to 80%, making it more competitive vis-à-vis the US and Japan. In the compromise deal with the Council endorsed by Parliament on 11 December 2012, MEPs cut costs for small firms and tailored the regime better to their needs.

2013 Annual Growth Survey — 29 November 2012, 00:25 CET

The European Commission on 28 November adopted the 2013 Annual Growth Survey (AGS), setting out five priorities designed to guide Member States through the crisis to renewed growth. The AGS kick-starts the European Semester for economic policy coordination, which ensures Member States align their budgetary and economic plans with the Stability and Growth Pact and the Europe 2020 strategy.

Marketing scams: SMEs welcome Commission's communication — 27 November 2012, 13:32 CET

UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation, warmly welcomed the communication on misleading marketing practices adopted by the European Commission today (Tuesday) after years of insistence from our association and its members.

Small Business Act: commitments are finally becoming actions, survey finds — 14 November 2012, 00:12 CET

Similar average but different performance on administration for Commission and Parliament; all 10 SBA policy areas trending upwards