EU SME strategy

Full attention must be given to SME needs in the design of the EU flagship initiatives: the single market for goods and services, the digital single market, the trade negotiations, the EU regulatory reform, etc. For BusinessEurope it is essential to support SMEs strongly.

This is why we welcomed the announcement by the European Commission of its intention to release a renewed EU SME strategy in March 2020. A comprehensive and action-oriented initiative is essential to improve the operating environment for SMEs and for the economic and social wellbeing of our societies.

With its strategy, the European Commission has an opportunity to shape the EU SME policy to bolster the number of vibrant SMEs in the EU, and to help them fully grasp the opportunities and respond robustly to the challenges brought by a rapidly changing business environment.

The EU strategy for SMEs should build on the achievements of the Small Business Act (SBA), an overarching framework for the EU SME policy which delivered a number of encouraging outcomes. However, the priorities outlined in the SBA should be updated by taking account of the new needs of SMEs.

Publications

Position papers Date
Proposed regulation on late payment - Joint statement by BusinessEurope, EuroChambres and EuroCommerce 22/04/2024
Directive establishing a head office tax system for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) - a BusinessEurope position paper 14/12/2023
SME Relief Package and the Late Payment Regulation - a BusinessEurope position paper 27/11/2023
The European Commission's SME relief package - BusinessEurope input 24/03/2023
Revision of the late payment directive - a BusinessEurope position paper 15/03/2023
The new EU SME strategy: 50 actions to make it work 06/02/2020
Setting ambitious goals for the future SME policy 19/02/2019
Declaration of European SME Envoys and business organisations on the visibility of European support for SMEs in the next Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF) 13/04/2018
Proposed amendment to VAT treatment of SMEs 20/03/2018
Revision of the EU definition of SMEs: key elements for a sound approach - BusinessEurope position paper 07/11/2017
Interim evaluation of COSME, the EU programme for SME competitiveness - BusinessEurope's comments 30/06/2017
Special scheme for small enterprises under the VAT directive - BusinessEurope's reply to the public consultation 20/03/2017
Press releases Date
Providing real relief for SMEs – BusinessEurope’s SME Roadshow in Rome 04/10/2023
SME Relief Package: Revision of Late Payment Directive should better reflect business reality 12/09/2023
Make Better Regulation work better for SMEs! 29/11/2022
Business needs an EU SME Envoy without delay 18/11/2021
EU industrial and SME strategies: getting real economy back on track 10/03/2020
Business organisations voice strong support for a new EU SME Strategy 12/09/2019
Fresh initiatives needed to support SMEs 19/02/2019
Public letters Date
Revision of the Late Payment Directive - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to Margrethe Vestager 07/07/2023
Reports and studies Date
Making Better Regulation work better for SMEs - The SME Test benchmark 2022 29/11/2022
Speeches Date
Single market for SMEs: operating in global value chains and the importance of compliance, enforcement and surveillance - Speech by Marta Marti at the Single Market Forum 2016/2017 closing conference 19/06/2017

Upcoming Events

15
May

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the lifeline of Europe’s economy. They create jobs and wealth in Europe where most of their business is carried out. However, in the last years SMEs have gone through multiple challenges due to persistent labour shortages, higher energy prices,...

Contact

Daniele Olivieri

Deputy Director for Entrepreneurship & SMEs
Tel:
+32 2 237 65 48
Last updated: 26 February 2020