Creation, growth and transfer of enterprises

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the main drivers of job creation, economic growth and social cohesion in Europe. They have local roots, provide local jobs but also exploit the benefits of globalisation. SMEs indeed constitute the dominant category of business organisation in all EU countries with some 23 million enterprises (99.8%); their share in total employment creation is massive (81.6%) as well as their contribution to the EU-GDP (up to 60%).

Because there is no economy without SMEs, small and medium-sized enterprises deserve an adequate public policy to help them get their ideas off the ground, grow and flourish .

Encouraging and supporting an increased number of entrepreneurs to enter business in Europe is essential in meeting the Lisbon objectives. Helping to make certain that much higher percentages of those entrepreneurs who enter business, stay in business will also help Europe grow and prosper. Fostering business transfer as another valid option into enterprise must be a priority with Europe’s ageing population.

It is vital therefore that all 27 national governments, European institutions and economic partners (including Chambers of Commerce & Industry) actively seek to foster a stronger and more vibrant culture of enterprise in Europe.

Although the integration of the “Think Small First” principle into Community and national legislation is slowly becoming a reality, EUROCHAMBRES regrets the lack of commitment displayed by EU leaders when it comes to actually acting small first. The current pace of reforms is too slow. To move up a gear, the EU and the Member States need to put SMEs more at the center of their action. This requires notably to:

• Put SMEs at the heart of the next Lisbon cycle (2008-2010);
• The Member States to be more ambitious in (implementing) their reform programmes: quantitative targets to be respected;
• Establish a Small Business Act for Europe that contains binding principles and procedures to move from thinking to acting small first.

Building on their expertise in providing business support services and their daily direct contact with 19 million member enterprises (of which 99.5% are SMEs), the European Chambers of Commerce aim to contribute to the creation of a more business friendly environment by putting forward specific recommendations to national governments and EU institutions.