Europese vertegenwoordigers MKB kritisch over Europese 'Small Business Act' (en)

CES/09/159

7 December 2009

SMALL BUSINESS ACT: HAPPY BIRTHDAY? NOT YET

The EESC's Employers' Group, EUROCHAMBRES, UEAPME and BUSINESSEUROPE have sent a clear message to European decision-makers: current measures aimed at "Thinking Small First" have not removed the burdens hampering the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, job creation and innovation in Europe.

"Undoubtedly, Europe can count on SMEs to create growth and jobs but can SMEs and entrepreneurs count on Europe?", said Henri Malosse , President of the Employers' Group at the EESC.

Today, SMEs suffer from poor access to markets and finance, notably because of the negative impact of late payments and cumbersome procedures for obtaining funding, the persistence of bureaucratic burdens and the lack of harmonisation in the EU internal market. The absence of a statute for a European Private Company is a serious obstacle to corporate start ups and entrepreneurship throughout Europe. Many entrepreneurs often doubt their own abilities or do not understand how Europe can really help them to start and manage their businesses. This is the clear message voiced at a conference jointly organised by European entrepreneurs and business representatives to assess the added value of the EU initiative for individual business managers and SMEs.

Supporting SMEs and business in Europe will be a key solution not only to the financial crisis but also to addressing global social and environmental issues. SMEs are at the core of innovation and creativity and deserve to be supported. Next year, European business representatives and individual managers have promised to carry out another assessment and feedback exercise on the implementation of the Small Business Act.

For more information , please contact: sabrina.tesoka@eesc.europa.eu