Brussels, 20/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - Member states agree on the need to encourage entrepreneurship as a way of driving growth. Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani has promised an action plan for November.
Meeting at the informal Competitiveness Council in Nicosia on Thursday 19 July, EU industry ministers agreed to promote entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial culture, as the key to the return to economic growth in Europe. Following discussions, Cypriot minister Neoklis Sylikiotis hailed the general agreement on the importance of boosting entrepreneurship training to tackle youth unemployment and discovering unused talents and the involvement of women, innovation and support for timely restructuring of companies and a second chance for honest entrepreneurs whose companies have failed. Europe has understood that the economic crisis cannot be overcome solely by harsh austerity measures, Sylikiotis said. For there to be a return to growth, there is a need for policies that support entrepreneurship, especially small businesses, the veritable backbone of the European economy, which encourage innovation and create the conditions for job creation, thus helping to maintain social cohesion, he added.
Encouraging entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial culture in education and school curricula, providing continuous guidance and assistance to innovating entrepreneurs, training women and young business chiefs, cutting red tape and simplifying bankruptcy procedures, facilitating access to finance, these are the main areas for action on which the Community Entrepreneurship 2020 action plan will be based. Tajani pledged the action plan would be ready by November. A consultation exercise has already been launched (see EUROPE 10657). (EH/transl.rt)