SMEs

France, Germany and Italy eye ‘omnibus’ law to cut regulatory burden

Economy, finance and business ministers from France, Germany, and Italy are set to sketch out plans for a sweeping “omnibus” law to cut requirements for businesses on Monday (8 April), turbo-charging industrialists’ demand for a European Industrial deal.

SMEs need better connectivity and skills to embrace digital transition, experts say

While the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the digitalisation of SMEs in the EU, experts argue that policymakers' focus should now move to infrastructure and education in order to bridge the remaining digital divide.

EU reshapes its vision for SMEs amid emerging threats

Policymakers have started re-thinking the EU strategy for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that the European Commission unveiled only a few days before the start of the first lockdown all over Europe.

EIT Crisis Response Initiative: €60 million for Europe’s innovators

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) will mobilise €60 million to support European entrepreneurs and innovators. The EIT’s Crisis Pandemic Initiative, launched on Thursday (14 May), aims to support start-ups, expanding businesses, SMEs and new innovative projects based on a greener and more sustainable approach.

Belgian start-up scene calls for ‘life support’ amid COVID-19 crisis

More than 400 founders and leaders of Belgian start-ups have launched a call on the country's federal and regional governments to support startups and scaleups with additional government aid to avoid their decline during and after the coronavirus pandemic.

Commission pledges action to ensure companies survive coronavirus

European Commission is “extremely mobilise” to ensure that big companies and SMEs survive the economic impact of coronavirus, commissioner for Industry Thierry Breton said on Monday (9 March).

SMEs are key to climate protection, says Austrian businesswoman

After having represented the interests of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for four years, Ulrike Rabmer-Koller takes stock, in an interview with EURACTIV Germany, of her successes and discusses her ambitions looking forward in the fight against climate change.

Von Der Leyen urged to prioritise single market to counter slowdown

The European economy is undergoing a rapid transition, with digital technology and climate change needs set to transform normal commerce. Is the EU’s single market flexible enough to handle the change?

To target or not to target? That is the EU’s research and innovation question

There is a lot of money available to fund research and innovation in the EU, but it's not reaching the right people at the right time. Policymakers are debating whether more focused funding would make the situation better, or worse.

Commission to hike EU investment in defence innovation

The European Commission proposed on Wednesday (June 13) to hike from €90 million to €13 billion the budgetary funds earmarked for strengthening the EU's strategic autonomy in collective security by boosting cross-border research and innovation in the field of defence.

Ahead of digital revolution, small Czech firms still struggle with slow internet

The Czech Republic is one of the most industrialised EU states and its big companies do not fear digitalisation. However, SMEs are afraid of job losses and have asked for help with the costly transformation.

‘Juncker plan’ mobilises €284 billion in investment

The EU’s investment fund set up in the aftermath of the financial crisis has mobilised €284 billion to date, mostly in private capital, surpassing the halfway point of its 2020 target.

Stockholm mayor: Cohesion policy is strongest form of EU solidarity

Stockholm produces more billion dollar companies than any other place outside Silicon Valley and the European Commission recently proclaimed it Europe's most innovative region. Mayor Karin Wanngård explained how her city hangs onto its talent and why it is such a popular breeding ground for 'unicorns'.

Cross-border mobility of companies: ‘Real seat’ vs ‘incorporation’

EU member states have adopted contrasting approaches to the cross-border mobility of companies, with some insisting on “real” economic activity and others happy to consider the legally-registered office instead. How the EU eventually decides could have important implications, writes Corrado Malberti.

An Erasmus for SMEs to support the economy

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Click here to download this Special Report. Building on the success of a first pilot project, the European Commission and SMEs explore the idea of a mobility programme to increase companies’ exports.

Europe needs an Erasmus for SMEs

The European project MobiliseSME showed the potential of a cross-border exchange program for small and medium-sized businesses in Europe. It is now important that this idea is continued with an Erasmus for SMEs, so to help European companies make the best of the Single Market, writes Stefan Moritz.

Time to bust a few myths about innovation in the internet of things era

Small European tech companies might be about to lose out if the European Commission's new patent guidelines favour giants like Qualcomm and Ericsson, writes Morgan Reed.

European SMEs can lead the world in the IoT revolution

European firms can lead the economy of tomorrow if our small and medium-sized companies obtain the necessary support, notably when it comes to innovation incentives and patent litigation, writes Hassan Triqui.

SMEs are harnessing the power of digital, but continue to face regulatory hurdles

Social networks present new opportunities for SMEs to grow. But some worry that privacy requirements are stifling that growth

EU cybersecurity agency seeks funds and power to police attacks

The EU cybersecurity agency ENISA will get a makeover in September when the European Commission renews its mandate and presents a batch of new cybersecurity measures. The director of the Athens-based agency has been asking for a bigger budget to deal with the rise in attacks on internet-connected devices.

EU copyright directive means trouble for our startups

Startups in Europe can only be successful if they have solid rules in the online space. But in an attempt to limit the power of tech giants, the European Union risks hampering the next generation of European startups too, writes Lenard Koschwitz.

Commission insists poor-performing regions need structural reforms

The European Commission yesterday (11 April) suggested that regions with a lower level of growth could benefit from greater institutional capacity and structural reforms that could facilitate investment. EURACTIV Spain reports.

EIB, WEF tell EU to embed social inclusion in economic policy

At a time of rising inequality across Europe, the European Investment Bank and the World Economic Forum have jointly sounded the alarm bell and called for social inclusion to become an organic part of EU economic policy.

Commission wants to open up legal, architectural, and engineering professions

The European Commission proposed on Tuesday (10 January) a fine-tuning of the Services Directive in order to address the over-protection of certain professions in the member states.