SMEs in the EU

Latest news about Small and Medium-sized Enterprises policy in the European Union

Commission launches open access pilot project — 21 August 2008, 21:28 CET

The European Commission has launched a pilot project which will see the results of EU-funded research in seven key subject areas made freely available online. According to the Commission, the initiative should raise the visibility of European research, and drive innovation by ensuring that businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises have access to the latest research results.

European Committee for Standardisation — 05 August 2008, 16:57 CET

CEN, the European Committee for Standardization, was founded in 1961 by the national standards bodies in the European Economic Community and EFTA countries. Now CEN is contributing to the objectives of the European Union and European Economic Area - with voluntary technical standards which promote free trade, the safety of workers and consumers, interoperability of networks, environmental protection, exploitation of research and development programmes, and public procurement. CEN is a non-profit making technical organization set up under Belgian law.

EU supporting stars of tomorrow through Eurostars — 31 July 2008, 23:28 CET

The European Union has given the green light allowing the flow of funds to support the Eurostars Joint Programme. Decision 743/2008/CE of the European Parliament and the Council, of 9 July, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 30 July and will enter into force on 2 August.

Industrial Property — 16 July 2008, 18:02 CET

The importance of protection of Industrial Property rights (in particular the protection of inventions, industrial design and trade marks) for innovation, employment, competition and thus economic growth, cannot be underestimated. The European Commission focuses in particular on these "knowledge-based" aspects of the Single Market. Its work is partly concerned with traditional instruments regulating the market, such as harmonising the laws of the Member States relating to industrial property rights to avoid barriers to trade. The aim is also to create unitary systems for the protection of such rights with EU-wide effect through the filing of one single application for protection (Community trade marks, designs and patents). The Commission is also increasingly concerned with ensuring that the Single Market functions properly in the Information Society and the fight against Counterfeiting. A fundamental discussion on the principle of Community exhaustion of trade mark rights and its economic effects on innovation, employment and prices are also handled by the Commission, as well as the discussions on Enlargement.

Industrial Property Rights Strategy for Europe - guide — 16 July 2008, 18:05 CET

News, background information and web links about media and audiovisual policy in the European Union.

Regulation automatically approving aid for jobs and growth - guide — 07 July 2008, 17:22 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the employment policies of the European Union.

EU eases aid rules for boosting jobs, economic growth — 08 July 2008, 17:33 CET

The European Commission has adopted plans to ease rules for granting public aid to projects that create jobs, boost economic activity, protect the environment or help women entrepreneurs.

Communication on VAT reduced rates - guide — 07 July 2008, 14:06 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the employment policies of the European Union.

EU proposes sales tax cut for restaurants, haircuts — 07 July 2008, 16:29 CET

The European Commission proposed on Monday sales tax cuts on locally provided services like restaurants and haircuts as part of proposals to shake-up EU value added tax rules.

Equal treatment beyond the workplace - guide — 02 July 2008, 14:27 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the employment policies of the European Union.

EU tackles discrimination, boosts worker and health rights — 02 July 2008, 16:45 CET

The EU unveiled Wednesday new plans to tackle discrimination against aged or handicapped people, strengthen workers' rights and clear up health care across Europe's borders.

"Small Business Act" for Europe — 25 June 2008, 23:13 CET

The "Small Business Act" for Europe was adopted by the Commission on 25 June 2008. It is based on ten guiding principles and proposes policy actions to be undertaken by both the Commission and EU Member States.

European Private Company - guide — 25 June 2008, 23:10 CET

News, background information and web links about European Union policies on SMEs (small businesses).

Small Business Act for Europe (SBA) - guide — 25 June 2008, 23:08 CET

News, background information and web links about European Union policies on SMEs (small businesses).

EU proposes single European legal status for small firms — 27 June 2008, 11:10 CET

The Commission sought on Wednesday to make it easier for small and mid-sized companies to do business across Europe's borders with proposals for a single EU legal status.

Small Business Act - public procurement guidelines — 25 June 2008, 14:30 CET

News, background information and web links about European Union policies on SMEs (small businesses).

European businesses not ready for potential flu pandemic — 13 June 2008, 17:18 CET

Businesses in Europe are not sufficiently prepared for a potential flu pandemic. This is the key finding of a new report entitled 'Business continuity planning and pandemic influenza in Europe', published by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

Notice on state aid in the form of Guarantees - guide — 20 May 2008, 20:06 CET

News, background information and web links about European Union policies on SMEs (small businesses).

Small Business Act for Europe — 01 May 2008, 17:52 CET

The European Commission has proposed in the Community Lisbon Programme the preparation of a Small Business Act for Europe whose main aim will be to set principles and concrete measures to improve the framework conditions for European SMEs, while taking full account of their diversity.

British, French leaders push EU to help small business — 30 April 2008, 22:41 CET

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy wrote to EU chiefs on Wednesday to urge them to help small businesses cope with the global credit crunch.

Mediation in civil and commercial matters - guide — 23 April 2008, 23:58 CET

Rulings of the European Court of Justice and other legal issues concerning the EU

Mediation in civil and commercial matters - summary — 23 April 2008, 23:54 CET

Rulings of the European Court of Justice and other legal issues concerning the EU

Europe launches first procurement for ITER — 16 April 2008, 23:06 CET

Fusion for Energy (F4E), the agency responsible for Europe's contribution to the international experimental thermonuclear reactor (ITER), is expected to unlock new business opportunities for industry with the launch of its first ever procurement.

Antitrust: EC policy paper on compensating consumer and business victims of competition breaches - guide — 03 April 2008, 14:44 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about consumer policy and the rights of consumer in the European Union.

EU proposes allowing antitrust victims to sue for damages — 03 April 2008, 16:05 CET

The European Commission unveiled plans on Thursday to give consumers and businesses greater powers to sue companies caught running illegal cartels or abusing their market power.