1. Convergence towards the "Small Business Act" EUROMED Invest Academy Belgrade, March Christos Kyriatzis, Deputy Head of Unit, International Affairs and Missions for Growth, Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMES, European Commission

2. Importance of SMEs in the global economy
SMEs are the backbone of the European economy accounting for around 99% of all Enterprises.
Contribute to economic development, growth and employment.
66.8% of total employment and 58.1% of the value added
Adoption of the Small Business Act for Europe in June 2008

3. The EU SME Policy
Guiding principle : Subsidiarity -> SME policy is – first of all- national business.
Role of EU focussed on -> areas where joint EU action may yield value-added
-> issues where the EU as such has the competency to improve the situation of SMEs

4. The EU’s SME Policy SME Policy Internal Market Trade policy Regional
Competition
policy
Social
Policy
SME Policy
R&D
Education
Policy
Consumer & health
protection policies
Fiscal
policy
Environmental
Policy

5. What is the Small Business Act ?
The SBA is a comprehensive policy framework recognising the central role of SMEs.
Adopted in June 2008
Main objective: create a common framework for SME initiatives and implement the “Think Small First” principle
10 principles and a set of policy actions to implement them
SBA Review in 2011 – Public Consultation in 2014

6. 10 principles of the Small Business Act
Entrepreneurial learning and women entrepreneurship
Bankruptcy and second chance
Regulatory Framework for SME policy making
Operational Environment
SME Support Services and Public Procurement
Access to Finance for SMEs
Standards and technical regulations
Enterprise skills and Innovation
SMEs in a Green Economy
Internationalisation of SMEs

7. Enhanced governance: the network of the SME Envoys
European level: the EU SME Envoy listens to SMEs and their representatives and acts as internal “watchdog” for EU policy making.
National level: Member States have appointed their national SME Envoys (regional Envoys can be nominated)
National coordinators in the WB/Turkey and Mediterranean countries

8. Enhanced governance: give SMEs a greater role
SMEs will have their say with the SME Assembly: representatives of small businesses from all over the 28 Member States will gather yearly
European SMEs representatives are part of the Network of the SME Envoys

9. SBA Assessment Process
The SBA Assessment is a joint process implemented by the European Commission, OECD, EBRD and the European Training Foundation (ETF). SEECEL is now also a partner.
Based on the SME policy Index
Each Partner country has nominated a SBA national coordinator who has a crucial role.

10. A Global Process The Process covers several regions:
The Western Balkans and Turkey
The Mediterranean Countries
The Eastern Partnership countries

11. SBA Process in the Mediterranean countries
First process based on the former Charter for small enterprises in 2008
Second assessment conducted in 2013 and published in 2014
Structured around the Small Business Act
Follow-up : Training days on topics identified in the recommendations

12. SMEs and the South Mediterranean region
Average number of SMEs per 1000 people in MED area is 23 but SMEs have an important development potential in the Region
82% are micro firms (1-9 employees)
33% of total employment
Mostly active in trade, services and manufacturing
Adoption of Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise (2004) and alignment with the Small Business Act (SBA) for Europe (since 2014) will help SME development in MED countries

13. Implementation of the SBA by the candidate countries
Adoption of the EU acquis is an obligation in the enlargement process
Alignment to European SME policies covered by Chapter 20 "Enterprise and Industrial policy"
Candidate countries have already developed measures in line with those existing in the EU.

14. SBA Process in Serbia
The fourth cycle for the Western Balkans/Turkey launched on 1st October 2014 in Naples.
A launching event for Serbia took place in Belgrade on 17 December 2014 to present the revised assessment methodology.
The National Stakeholders meeting to discuss the results will take place 3 June 2015 in Belgrade.

15. 2014-2016 process Preparation of a revised methodology.
Dissemination of the questionnaires to the governments and the independent consultants.
Evaluation of the questionnaires by partners and follow up with countries.
National stakeholders meetings to validate first results.
Regional meeting with SBA coordinators to agree on the final scores in October 2015.
Launching event and publication of the report in Spring 2016.

16. What are the expected results
Support governments in setting targets on SME policy developments
Define strategic priorities to further improve the business environment.
Sharing good practices and networking
Example of "good practice" in MED countries : training days :
Regional training seminar on SBA governance

17. Another EU/OECD Common Project with the WB : the Competitiveness Outlook
To foster competitiveness in the region
Monitor the implementation of the SEE2020
To feed into Economic Report programmes, new exercise for the countries similar to the European Semester for the MS

18. The role of the Business associations
The private sector is fully associated in the process.
Encourage participation in the stakeholders meeting which will take place on 3 June
Other actions led by DG GROWTH :
Missions for Growth
Milan Expo 2015

19. Missions for Growth
Missions support SMEs’ internationalisation, as SMEs are the first beneficiaries of the Missions.
1000 participants representing more than 650 companies and business associations from 27 Member States.
Missions in Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Israël

20. Universal Expo Milan 2015 - Euro-Mediterranean days
DG GROW is organising several events focusing on EU–Third Countries
EUROMED days on 6/7 May – 3 sessions
1. Political: Benefit of Euro-Mediterranean industrial cooperation
2. Technical: Business opportunities in both the EU and South-Mediterranean countries
3. Business-to-Business meetings

21. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. DG GROW Website : http://ec. europa