SMEs in the EU

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

Single Market Communication celebrates success of Single Market but lacks prospect of better regulation — 16 March 2023, 22:38 CET

SMEunited welcomes the European Commission Communication on the 30-year anniversary of the Single Market. In reaction, the organisation stresses that future success depends on the full implementation and enforcement of current rules. The European Commission must also create a predictable and simple regulatory framework through better regulation.

Women's Day: Boosting women’s entrepreneurship — 09 March 2023, 16:54 CET

On the occasion of International Women's Day, SMEunited pays special attention to women entrepreneurs and their contribution to the European economy and society. We especially thank all women entrepreneurs across Europe who invest their valuable time to represent SMEs at local, regional, national and European level!

EUR 7.5m to support integration of Ukrainian SMEs into Single Market — 28 February 2023, 20:08 CET

The Commission launched two calls for proposals Tuesday under 'ReadyForEU' aimed at helping Ukrainian entrepreneurs and businesses to benefit from the Single Market.

Germany go-ahead for EU's unitary patent system — 21 February 2023, 23:24 CET

Germany's deposition of instrument on the ratification of the Unified Patent Court Agreement Monday triggered the final step required for the Unitary Patent system to start operating on 1 June 2023.

MEPs back new rules for fair access and use of industrial data — 09 February 2023, 23:29 CET

A Euro-Parliament committee gave its backing Thursday to the 'Data Act', empowering a wider range of private and public entities to share data, while clarifying who can access data and on what terms.

EuroCommerce supports roll-out of charging infrastructure for e-mobility, but calls for flexibility and SME mindset — 09 February 2023, 22:15 CET

On 9 February, the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) adopted the report on the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), including requirements on charging stations for non-residential buildings.

EU Data Act: Parliament misses opportunity for real data market — 09 February 2023, 22:03 CET

"The result of the vote in the EP Committee for Industry and Research on the draft report for a European data law is a missed opportunity. The compromise falls short of our expectations and allows significant unjustified access restrictions for SMEs offering maintenance and repair services," said SMEunited Secretary General Véronique Willems.

Retailers and wholesalers standing at the ready to deploy cleantech — 01 February 2023, 22:31 CET

The Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age presents retailers and wholesalers a chance to seize the net-zero opportunity. They are perfectly placed to be prime users of the advances in cleantech and can support the deployment of cleantech as promised by the Commission.

40 pct of online shops engaged in manipulative practices - EU report — 30 January 2023, 23:26 CET

148 out of 399 online shops screened by the EU in a "sweep" of online retail websites were found to engage in 'manipulative online practices, the European Commission announced on Monday.

MEPs vote to make financial sector accountable for environmental harm and human rights violations — 25 January 2023, 17:47 CET

MEPs from the European Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs opened the way on 24 January for increased accountability from businesses.

Support for social dialogue welcomed by SMEs — 25 January 2023, 17:29 CET

SMEunited welcomes the European Commission Communication on the European social dialogue and the proposal for a Council Recommendation on national social dialogue. Social partners at all levels are best placed to modernise labour markets and make them more resilient to strengthen SMEs productivity, innovation and competitiveness.

Brussels mulls revision of Late Payment Directive — 23 January 2023, 23:55 CET

The European Commission launched an open public consultation Friday to collect information on late or unfair payment practices and payment behaviour in commercial transactions.

43 pct websites broke EU rules during Black Friday — 19 December 2022, 23:25 CET

The Commission and national consumer protection authorities released Monday results of a website screening (sweep), aimed at verifying how price reductions were presented on Black Friday 2022.

SMEunited continues support to European Partnership for Integration — 19 December 2022, 22:56 CET

European social and economic partners together with the European Commission renew their commitment to the European Partnership for Integration.

EU institutions agree deal to close gender pay gap — 15 December 2022, 22:36 CET

New pay transparency rules, agreed Thursday by the EU institutions, will empower women to enforce the principle of equal pay for equal work through a set of binding measures on pay transparency.

Bringing VAT rules to business realities of the 21st century — 08 December 2022, 22:04 CET

The European Commission published today proposals on the VAT in the digital age initiative. EuroCommerce Director General Christel Delberghe commented:

Brussels wants EU VAT system adapted to 21st century needs — 12 December 2022, 23:36 CET

The European Commission proposed Thursday a series of measures to modernise and make the EU's Value-Added Tax (VAT) system work better for businesses and more resilient to fraud.

VAT in the Digital Age - guide — 08 December 2022, 18:52 CET

The European Commission proposed on 8 December a series of measures to modernise and make the EU's Value-Added Tax (VAT) system work better for businesses and more resilient to fraud by embracing and promoting digitalisation.

VAT Gap 2022 report - guide — 08 December 2022, 18:52 CET

The European Commission proposed on 8 December a series of measures to modernise and make the EU's Value-Added Tax (VAT) system work better for businesses and more resilient to fraud by embracing and promoting digitalisation.

EU clearing, insolvency proposals to make capital markets more attractive — 12 December 2022, 23:06 CET

The EU Commission laid out plans Wednesday to make EU clearing services more attractive, harmonise some corporate insolvency rules and make it easier for companies to list on stock exchanges.

EU Commission proposals on corporate insolvency and listing - guide — 07 December 2022, 22:42 CET

The European Commission put forward on 7 December measures to develop the EU's Capital Markets Union (CMU) including to harmonise certain corporate insolvency rules across the EU, making them more efficient and helping promote cross-border investment.

Revised packaging rules put additional constraint on SMEs — 30 November 2022, 23:51 CET

SMEunited disagrees with the policy option to put all responsibility on economic operators to comply with the new obligations on packaging and packaging waste. The new targets will create a serious disruption of the current working methods, without providing for initiatives to mitigate the impact or facilitate the process towards new models.

EU looks to end wasteful packaging, boost reuse and recycling — 02 December 2022, 21:07 CET

The European Commission proposed Wednesday new EU-wide rules to reduce packaging waste, promote reuse and refill, increase the use of recycled plastics, and make it easier to recycle packaging.

Make Better Regulation work better for SMEs! A joint analysis of the SME Test — 29 November 2022, 19:19 CET

BusinessEurope, Eurochambres, and SMEunited have joined forces to analyse the application of the SME Test across the European Commission services. 26 impact assessments have been checked against the European Commission’s own better regulation guidelines to assess whether and to what extent the SME Test, a mandatory tool in ensuring an SME-proofed regulatory regime, is carried out.

Final green light for EU corporate sustainability reporting directive — 29 November 2022, 19:12 CET

European companies will soon be required to publish detailed information on sustainability matters, following final approval Monday of the corporate sustainability reporting directive (CSRD).