EU policies ‘failing to produce results’ for SMEs

Despite all the policy instruments put in place in the last months, a worryingly wide gap remains between measures taken and their concrete effects on small businesses, according to a survey conducted by UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation. The 'Think Small Test' and 'SBA Implementation Scoreboard', released May 2009 to coincide with the launch of the first European SME Week, aim to assess the extent to which the European institutions and national governments are fulfilling their commitment to respect the 'Think Small First' principle and to implement the promises made in the Small Business Act.

The European Parliament fares relatively better on administration and business support measures and worse on legislation, while the European Commission ranks worst in administration. Member States behave better on support
to internationalisation and innovation as well as on State aid, while much remains to be done to secure access to
finance and public tenders and to grant non-fraudulent entrepreneurs a second chance should they fail.

Website: UEAPME http://www.ueapme.com/

UEAPME: Press Release, 6.5.09: Survey shows wide gap between SME policy actions and concrete effects http://www.ueapme.com/IMG/pdf/090506_pr_TST_and_Scoreboard.pdf

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