Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up 99% of European businesses. Their small size makes them very sensitive to changes in the industry and environment in which they operate. It is therefore vital for their well-being to be a focus of political attention.
Legislative instruments
- 32003H0361
Commission Recommendation of 6 May 2003 concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 1422)
Official Journal L 124 , 20/05/2003 P. 0036 - 0041
- 32006D1639
Decision No 1639/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 establishing a Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (2007 to 2013)
Official Journal L 310 , 09/11/2006 P. 0015 - 0040
- 32009R1221
Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS), repealing Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 and Commission Decisions 2001/681/EC and 2006/193/EC
Official Journal L 342 , 22/12/2009 P. 0001 - 0045
- 32011L0007
Directive 2011/7/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 on combating late payment in commercial transactions Text with EEA relevance
Official Journal L 048 , 23/02/2011 P. 0001 - 0010
- 21994A0103(32)
Agreement on the European Economic Area - Protocol 31 on cooperation in the specific fields outside the four freedoms
Official Journal L 001 , 03/01/1994 P. 0197 - 0201
- 32008D0718
2008/718/EC: Commission Decision of 16 April 2008 on the measure C 29/07 (ex N 310/06) which Hungary is planning to implement in the form of a short-term export-credit guarantee for SMEs with limited export turnover (notified under document number C(2008) 1332) (Text with EEA relevance)
Official Journal L 239 , 06/09/2008 P. 0026 - 0031
- 32005D0782
2005/782/EC: Commission Decision of 3 May 2005 concerning a State aid which Germany is planning to implement for the development of municipal infrastructure directly serving industry in accordance with Part II, point 7 of the Outline Plan for the joint Federal Government/Länder scheme for ‘Improving regional economic structures’ — Construction or extension of business, technology and incubator centres that provide accommodation and services for small and medium-sized enterprises 2004 to 2006 (notified under document number C(2005) 1315) (Text with EEA relevance)
Official Journal L 295 , 11/11/2005 P. 0044 - 0050
- 32005D0644
2005/644/EC: Commission Decision of 20 October 2004 on the aid scheme ‘Invest Northern Ireland Venture 2003’ which the United Kingdom is planning to implement for SMEs in Northern Ireland (notified under document number C(2004) 3917) (Text with EEA relevance)
Official Journal L 236 , 13/09/2005 P. 0014 - 0021
- 31998Y1001(01)
Information from the Commission - Measures of financial assistance for innovative and job creating SMEs Notice of implementation of the ETF start- up facility and the SME guarantee facility under the growth and employment initiative
Official Journal C 302 , 01/10/1998 P. 0008 - 0012
- 31998Y0328(01)
Communication from the Commission on the transfer of small and medium-sized enterprises
Official Journal C 093 , 28/03/1998 P. 0002 - 0012
- 31997D0761
97/761/EC: Commission Decision of 5 November 1997 approving a support mechanism for the creation of transnational joint ventures for SMEs in the Community (Text with EEA relevance)
Official Journal L 310 , 13/11/1997 P. 0028 - 0031
- 31995Y1219(02)
Council Resolution of 27 November 1995 on small and medium-sized industrial enterprises (SMES) and technological innovation
Official Journal C 341 , 19/12/1995 P. 0003 - 0005
- 31986Y1114(01)
Council Resolution of 3 November 1986 concerning the action programme for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)
Official Journal C 287 , 14/11/1986 P. 0001 - 0001
Preparatory acts
- 52008DC0394
Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - “Think Small First” - A “Small Business Act” for Europe {SEC(2008) 2101} {SEC(2008) 2102}
- 52005DC0551
Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Implementing the community Lisbon programme - Modern SME policy for growth and employment
- 52003DC0021
Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the implementation of the European Charter for Small Enterprises
- 52011DC0078
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Review of the "Small Business Act" for Europe
- 52007DC0379
Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Small, clean and competitive - A programme to help small and medium-sized enterprises comply with environmental legislation {SEC(2007}906 {SEC(2007) }907 {SEC(2007)908}
- 52011DC0870
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION An action plan to improve access to finance for SMEs
- 52011DC0803
REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Minimizing regulatory burden for SMEsAdapting EU regulation to the needs of micro-enterprises
- 52011IR0163
Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on ‘Towards a space strategy for the European Union that benefits its citizens’
Official Journal C 054 , 23/02/2012 P. 0028 - 0033
- 52011AR0151
Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the ‘Review of the “Small Business Act” for Europe’
Official Journal C 009 , 11/01/2012 P. 0018 - 0022
- 52011PC0896
Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on public procurement
- 52011PC0862
Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on European Social Entrepreneurship Funds
- 52011PC0834
Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing a Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (2014 - 2020)
- 52011PC0785
Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on establishing the Creative Europe Programme
- 52010IP0223
EU 2020 European Parliament resolution of 16 June 2010 on EU 2020
Official Journal C 236 E , 12/08/2011 P. 0057 - 0065
- 52010AR0330
Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the ‘Single Market Act’
Official Journal C 166 , 07/06/2011 P. 0052 - 0058
- 52010IE1159
Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Financing structures for SMEs in the context of the current financial situation’ (own-initiative opinion)
Official Journal C 048 , 15/02/2011 P. 0033 - 0037
- 52007IE0982
Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on Business potential, especially of SMEs (Lisbon Strategy)
Official Journal C 256 , 27/10/2007 P. 0008 - 0016