SME Regional Policies
Maintaining a broad base of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is very important for the economic development, wealth and sustainability of a region. To help create a business friendly environment and boost SMEs’ competitiveness on a regional level as well, the European Commission provides analysis, shares best practices, programmes and policy initiatives.
Guidebooks on support to SME policy from structural funds:
- What the Commission does– the Commission prepares and disseminates series of guidebooks offering inspiration, tested examples, practical help and hands-on advice gathered by SME Policy expert groups. The implementation of the best practices is often not possible without a financial support. At a regional level, such a support is available from structural funds ERDF and ESF.
- What the guidebooks are about– each guidebook deals with a specific area of SME policy and includes examples of recent projects. A general guide provides an overview of the whole process.
- Who the guidebooks are for– the guidebooks are recommended to anyone involved in SME policy as well as regional development. They aim to raise awareness of the EU actions and facilitate the funding process of SME policy measures and initiatives at national and regional level.
The guidebooks published so far:
- Building entrepreneurial mind-sets and skills in the EU
- Using standards to support growth, competitiveness and innovation
- Facilitating transfer of business
- The smart guide to service innovation
- Regional implementation of the SBA – Small Business Act for Europe
- How to use structural funds for SME & Entrepreneurship Policy(further details, 362 KB)
- Supporting the internationalisation of SMEs
- Public procurement as a driver of innovation in SMEs and public services
- Fostering business angel activities in support of SME growth
- Improving resource efficiency in SMEs
- Smart Guide to Cluster Policy
You can also order a paper copy or a free eBook version of each guidebook directly from the online library managed by the Publications Office of the European Union. For access to “The Publication Office” of the European Union go to:- https://op.europa.eu/en/
Green Action Plan for SMEs
The Green Action Plan (GAP) aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) take advantage of the opportunities offered by the transition to a green economy. It presents ways for SMEs to turn environmental challenges into business opportunities.
Objectives of the GAP:
- to raise SMEs’ awareness of resource efficiency improvements and the potential of the circular economy for productivity, competitivenessand business opportunities
- to inform SMEs about EU resource efficiency actions under the COSME, Horizon 2020and LIFE programmes, and the European Structural and Investment Funds.
The GAP aims to help businesses by:
- improving productivity
- driving down costs
- supporting green entrepreneurship
- developing European leadership in green processes and technologies.
Emerging business opportunities in a green economy:
- greening SMEs
- green entrepreneurship
- opportunities for SMEs in a greener value chain
- access to marketsfor green SMEs.
European Commission actions:
- Communication on the Green Action Plan for SMEs(2014)
- Staff Working Document setting out a list of actions to be implemented at EU level within the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020
- State of play of implementationof the Green Action Plan.
Supporting documents and links:
- Flash Eurobarometer: SMEs, resource efficiency and green markets(2015)
- Public Consultation on the Green Action Plan for SMEs – the the final report(138 kB)
- Eurobarometer Survey on SMEs, resource efficiency and green markets(2013)
- Study on SMEs and the environment in the EU
- EU programmes COSME, Horizon 2020, and LIFE programmes, and the European Structural and Investment Funds
- Videos on doing business in the green economy(176 kB)
- Related EU initiatives(171 kB)
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