SME User Guide explaining the new SME definition

In May 2003 the European Commission adopted a new Recommendation regarding the SME definition to come into force 1 January 2005. The revision increases legal certainty, while reducing possibilities of its abuse, particularly with regard to state aid, Structural Funds and the Research and Development Framework Programme. This Recommendation concerns all Community policies applied within the European Economic Area in favour of SMEs. It will be adopted in a number of Community acts and programmes and integrated in the field of state aids where SMEs can benefit from exemption provisions including aid for R&D and vocational training.

The link address is: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/enterprise_policy/sme_definition/index_en.htm