The European Small Business Act The Territorial Dimension of the EU 2020 Strategy for SMEs Christian WEINBERGER, Senior Adviser - Entrepreneurship & SME.

The European Small Business ActThe Territorial Dimension of the EU 2020 Strategy for SMEs

Christian WEINBERGER, Senior Adviser - Entrepreneurship & SME Policy European Commission - DG Enterprise

Competitive Enterprises – Successful RegionsBrussels, 18 November 2014

What is the SBA?What is the SBA?+ A set of politically binding principles+ A package of concrete measures (legislative and non-

legislative)+ An implementation mechanism embedded in the EU

2020 strategy

in order to

1 - Improve the overall policy approach to entrepreneurship2 - Anchor the “Think Small First” principle in policy-making3 - Promote SMEs’ growth

10 politically binding 10 politically binding principlesprinciples

1. Create an environment for entrepreneurs and family businesses to thrive and entrepreneurship to be rewarded

2. Ensure that honest entrepreneurs who have faced bankruptcy quickly get a second Chance

3. Design rules according to the “Think Small First” principle

4. Make public administrations responsive to SMEs’ needs

5. Facilitate SMEs’ participation in Public Procurement and better use State Aid possibilities for SMEs

10 politically binding 10 politically binding principles (ctd.)principles (ctd.)

6. Facilitate SMEs’ access to finance and support timely payments in commercial transactions

7. Help SMEs to benefit more from the opportunities offered by the Single Market

8. Promote the upgrading of skills in SMEs and all forms of innovation

9. Enable SMEs to turn environmental challenges into opportunities

10. Encourage and support SMEs to benefit from the growth of markets

The SME Envoys

The 28 national SME-Envoys (incl. HR)

EU SME-Envoy

SBA Fact sheetsSBA Fact sheets

SBA Profile for SlovakiaSBA Profile for Slovakia

SBA Performance in SBA Performance in SpainSpain

The new SBA

Proposal for a "New" SBA with actions for coming years

Four priority areas confirmed plus skills/training as fifth priority

Open consultation running until 15/12/2015 (http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/small-business-act/public-consultation-sba/index_en.htm)

Proposal to be submitted to the new Commission in 2015

Concrete recommendations & inspiration

Describing Example Regions

Listing Good Practices

Advising on actions to be taken

Listing links with the Thematic Objectives

Explaining the background to the regional SME Policy dimension

Regions play a key role in the SBA implementation

Regional/local authorities are closer to SME

Main Regional challenges creating a business environment

with positive conditions creating tailor-made infrastructure innovation-orientated funding supporting the development of

networks supporting lifelong learning

1) Creating an environment for entrepreneurship link businesses and schools supporting entrepreneurial activities mentoring measures for start-ups create business transfer advisors

2) Ensure a Second Chance

information & promotion of a positive attitude

early warning system

SBA - Actions at regional level SBA - Actions at regional level

3) Implement the "Think Small First" Principle reducing administrative burdens make it easier to start-up a company Introduce SME Test for regional

regulation/programs4) Public administration responsive to SME

needs Single points of contact

5) Improve SME Access to Public procurement Simplify public procurements below

the threshold facilitate the participation of SME

SBA - Actions at regional level SBA - Actions at regional level

6) Access to finance implement the late payments

directive (30 days !) develop financial instruments to

provide loan guarantees and equity Support Business Angel and VC

activities7) Access to Market

Promote the activities of the EEN (Enterprise Europe Network)

Support internationalisation (see also GB 7)

SBA - Actions at regional level SBA - Actions at regional level

8) Skills, Innovation, Access to knowledge Support & training programs to

strengthen the ability to innovate9) Support "greening" of SMEs

Information campaigns Grants for ressource efficiency

10)Encourage growth Offer coaching and mentoring

programs

SBA - Actions at regional level SBA - Actions at regional level

The regional SME Envoy

In addition (and co-operation) with the national SME Envoy

Tasks are similar but for the domain of the regional activities

Use existing structures to the extent possible

Co-operate and synergize with the existing actors

Create specific governance cycle for implementation monitoring

Different SME Policy topics

Short layout of the relevant EU Policy

Presenting a number of actions to be taken

Potential for funding from EU Structural Funds

All based on existing verified good practices

SME Policy Guidebook Series

1) Building Entrepreneurial Mindsets and Skills in the EU

2) Using Standards to Support Growth, Competitiveness and Innovation

3) Facilitating Transfer of Business

4) The Smart Guide to Service Innovation

5) SBA Implementation at Regional Level

6) How to Use Structural Funds for SME & Entrepreneurship Policy ("Cookbook")

7) Supporting the Internationalisation of SMEs

8) Public Procurement for SMEs

9) Fostering Investments into SMEs by Business Angels

Available in different formats and languages

• PDF• eBook• Printed copy

EN - FR - DE - IT - ES - EL - BG - CS - DA - ET - LV - LT - HU - NL - PL - PT - RO - SK - SL - FI - SV - HR

Download & Ordering : http

://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/regional-sme-policies/index_en.htm

Also available in reasonable quantities for conferences

Increasing the Momentum for the Future

SMEs as a priority in the ESIF Operational Programs

More regional SME Envoys and regional SBA implementation initiatives

Better exploitation of existing good practices

More focus on Entrepreneurial Mindsets

• SBAhttp://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/entrepreneurship/sba_en.htm

• SME Portalhttp://ec.europa.eu/small-business

• SME Performance Reviewhttp://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/facts-figures-analysis/performance-review/

• SME Policy Good Practices Catalog http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/best-practices/index_en.htm

• SME Policy Guidebooks http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/regional-sme-policies/index_en.htm

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