Small Business Act for Europe

UEAPME warmly welcomed the announcement made by the European Commission in October 2007 to examine a range of initiatives to back SMEs, in the form of a Small Business Act for Europe (SBA) in 2008. It is an important step in the continuous engagement of this Commission towards SMEs.

The SBA should create the best possible environment for micro- and small enterprises, and give a concrete answer to the different challenges SMEs are facing along their life-cycle. It should be geared by respect for the entrepreneurs and for their invaluable contribution to society.

UEAPME believes, however, that the SBA will deliver only if its core is designed as a legally binding instrument, which should also serve as a legal basis for further legislative proposals (including the basis for pilot projects).

Position Papers

• July 2008: Informal Competitiveness Council: speaking notes of Secretary General Andrea Benassi on the Small Business Act

• June 2008: "Les attentes de l’Artisanat et des PME en vue de la Présidence française de l’Union européenne" (only available in French)

• December 2007: UEAPME expectations on the proposal for a European Small Business Act (aussi disponible en français)

Press releases

• 18/07/08: Small Business Act: Member States must step up to the plate, say SMEs

• 07/07/08: Member States must make use of new General Block Exemption Regulation

• 07/07/08: Commission proposal on reduced VAT rates must now be put into practice

• 25/06/08: Small Business Act: “Think Small First” at last!

• 23/06/08: Crafts and SMEs react positively to EC proposals for a Small Business Act

• 13/06/08: Crafts and SMEs hand out to-do list to upcoming French Presidency

• 03/06/08: Charter conference: small enterprises must not be treated as second-class

• 20/05/08: State aid: notice on guarantees must be integrated in “General Block Exemption”

• 17/04/08: Better regulation agenda must move from theory to practice

• 08/04/08: Taxation rules a key barrier to cross-border trade for SMEs

• 14/03/08: Spring Summit: time for action on energy policy and Lisbon goals

• 13/03/08: Tripartite Social Summit: SMEs call for labour markets overhaul

• 06/02/08: Small Business Act: beware of the paper tiger, warn SMEs

• 23/01/08: Small Business Act last chance for EU to deliver before 2009 elections

• 17/12/07: Small Business Act a litmus test for EU’s commitment to SMEs

Other documents

• 26/02/08: Letter from Secretary General Andrea Benassi to Competitiveness Council Ministers