Brussels, 13/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - On the basis of the Commission's communication of 15 November on Community policy supporting SMEs (EUROPE 9067 and 9032), the Competitiveness Council adopted conclusions underlining the importance of SMEs in European competitiveness. The Council recognised that “evidence shows that SMEs, and in particular micro-enterprises, are disproportionately affected by administrative burdens”. The Council also welcomed the “modern” approach of the Commission towards SMEs, which aims to provide the 23 million SMEs (almost 99% of companies) in Europe with a regulatory structure, access to funding and access to improved markets. The Commission communication underlines, “the contribution of SMEs to the Lisbon objectives and the need to integrate the principle of 'think small first” in Community policies”, as well as the importance of a “partnership” at all the different levels of the decision-making process and in devising and implementing measures benefiting all SMEs. The Council conclusions highlight the importance of an internal market working well for SMEs, with particular attention to the services sector. They also emphasise the “importance of wide involvement of SME stakeholders and SME representatives in the policy making process both at the national and Community level to ensure the relevance of the measures proposed”. The Competitiveness Council welcomed the Commission's aim to: “promote a coherent and single approach for SMEs to provide grater visibility on measures and initiatives for unlocking the full potential of SMEs”; to improve SME access to funding, enhancing the role of the Community where the market fails and by promoting an exchange of good practices and public/private partnerships (PPP); taking into account the need to amend excising rules on State Aid to SMEs, which reflect deficiencies in the market of which SMEs are its victims and to simplify administrative procedures through raising the platform for de minimis aid and enlarging the field of application of exemptions per category of enterprise; to take into account the needs of SMEs in intellectual copyright; the implement an annual review of progress achieved through a high level conference.
The Council is therefore urging the Commission to: ensure that the “think small first” approach is the “main principle” in SME policy; make progress with specific proposals on reducing bureaucracy in Community legislation via its simplification and evaluation programme; help push forward specific provisions for growth and development of SMEs during, for example, lengthy transition periods, reduced charges, demands on simplified reporting and exemptions; to ensure that the “thinks small first” approach takes into account all SMEs, traditional companies as well as enterprises with high growth potential (“gazelles”); fostering the application of the “think small first” principle in all Community initiatives and programmes; improving the regulatory environment for SMEs; consider appropriate action for encouraging cross-border SME activities; better use of cohesion fund policy for promoting key priorities in the domain of SMEs; strengthen measures promoting more free enterprise spirit and skills, as well as the goal of becoming an entrepreneur. The Council calls on the Commission and Member States to “Promote a coherent, pragmatic and well coordinated approach on the European and national level towards polices aimed at unlocking the full potential of SMEs”; more involvement of interested parties and strengthened consultations; encouragement of internationalisation of SME activities and cooperation between them; implementation of recommendation made in the different annual progress reports in the SME Charter; support for micro-enterprises; adoption of the Innovation and Competitiveness Programme (ICP) (see other article) as well as the 7th RDFP and ensuring that SMEs are able to fully benefit from added value in each of these programmes.