Brussels, 21/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - On the occasion of the Annual Conference on the European Charter for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME), on 15 and 16 June in Luxembourg, the Luxembourg Minister for Tourism, Fernand Boden, and representatives from over 35 countries and many associations working in the interest of SMES, exchanged good practices and their experiences identified in the latest reports on implementation of the SME Charter. Emphasis was placed on priority areas highlighted in the 2005 report (EUROPE 8889): (1) increasing awareness of the entrepreneurial spirit, mainly in secondary education; (2) better regulation (especially impact assessments) and legislation on bankruptcy; (3) shortage of qualified labour (in particular, measures aimed at overcoming the lack of qualified technicians and engineers). Participants were informed of the activities of the European Investment Fund in favour of SMEs and the recent Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise. Created at the request of the European Council of Lisbon in 2000, the European Charter for SMEs has become a medium for the promotion of SMEs' interests in Europe, and its ten key actions in support of SMEs provide a framework that fosters development of enterprise policy. The good practices set out in the annual reports for implementation of the Charter are a precious fund of knowledge for improving the SME environment.
Furthermore, a study carried out by the economic think-tank, Academy Avignon, and presented during the conference by the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (UEAPME) reveals that, although Member States have made noteworthy progress in implementing the SME Charter, many commitments pertaining to taxation and the internal market remain limited. Blando Palmieri, General Secretary of Avignon Academy, explained that the continuing lack of commitment on the part of some Member States to apply specific support measures to SMEs in some of the main sectors of the Charter is worrying. More must be done, he went on, to strengthen the status and the legal base of the Charter and to link support for SMEs, which account for over 90% of European companies, to the overall success of the Lisbon strategy and to Europe's capacity to successfully generate more growth and jobs. He added that the decision to put an end to the obligation imposed on Member States to account for their annual progress through the Charter is a serious blow to the Charter's credibility and will reduce its effectiveness. The study, which was carried out in the EU15 countries, confirms that progress has been made in heightening awareness of the entrepreneurial spirit, qualifications, and the technological capacities of SMEs. The study, however, considers Member State action “insufficient” in several vital areas: (1) the use of studies to assess the impact that regulation will have on SMEs; (2) reduction of the tax and administrative burden and adjustment of national taxation systems to “reward success” of small companies; and (3) improved internal market functioning, especially for public services.