Brussels, 23/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - With the review of the Small Business Act (SBA), adopted on Wednesday 23 February, the European Commission wants to send a strong signal to European SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), which are job creators and which, with internationalisation, can play a role in the consolidation of democracy in North Africa and the Middle East, said Commission Vice-President with responsibility for Industry and Entrepreneurship Antonio Tajani, presenting the new measures the Commission proposes to take.
The EUROPE 2020 strategy and the European economy are hugely dependent on the capacity of SMEs, which lost three million jobs during the crisis, to fully exploit their potential. In the EU, some 23 million SMEs employ 67% of the labour force in the private sector. The SBA is the EU's policy framework aimed at strengthening SMEs so that they can grow and create employment. Between 2008 and 2010, the Commission and member states implemented a number of initiatives set out in the SBA to cut red tape, facilitate access by SMEs to finance and help them reach new markets. While most of the initiatives provided for by the SBA have been initiated, the review of implementation so far reveals that a lot remains to be done.
It is for that reason that the Commission appointed an SME czar - an official who will be the “European ambassador” for small and medium-sized enterprises and whom Tajani introduced to the press. The new SME czar, whose nomination was approved by the college last week, is Daniel Calleja Crespo, Deputy Director General at DG Industry and Enterprise. He will be responsible for ensuring that the Small Business Act is correctly and fully implemented in all 27 member states. In addition to the creation of the post of SME czar, the SBA review provides for a number of other initiatives, for example, on internationalisation, simplifying administrative formalities and access to credit.
At the press conference Tajani said: “SMEs represent more than 99% of all businesses and employ more than 90 million in Europe. They are the engine behind our economy and must be kept strong, competitive and innovative. Member states must act quickly to ensure that the Small Business Act is fully implemented”. The same view was expressed by the UEAPME, the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, which said in a press release that the review of the SBA is “a step forward” but stressed that “implementation is top priority” for the measures planned. The chairman of the European Parliament internal market committee, Malcolm Harbour (ECR, UK) acknowledged that much has been done, but added that there was still “much more to do” as “the notion of 'think small first' still needs to be embedded in everything the EU and member states do”.
To raise awareness among the governments of the 27 EU member states, Tajani will travel to a number of European capitals to present the review of the SBA - Rome on Wednesday, then London, Paris, Berlin and Sofia - and will ask each country to appoint its own SME czar, an idea to which Bulgaria has already signed up. He will also propose holding an annual informal Council devoted to SMEs. The UK, Italy and Belgium have welcomed his proposals and have pledged to work together to promote SME interests in Europe.
In a press release, the Commission highlights the successes of the SBA initiatives launched since 2008 and summarises the new measures proposed in a number of priority areas: - improved access to finance to allow SMEs to invest and grow; - smart regulation to enable SMEs to concentrate on core business; - making full use of the single market; - helping SMEs face the challenges of globalisation and climate change. The review also proposes strengthened governance for the implementation of the SBA, with business organisations at the frontline. (Gp/transl.rt)