European observatory for SMEs
The European Commission, DG XXIII, has published an open invitation to tender for a European observatory for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Commission intends to ensure the collaboration of a specialized organization or network of specialized organizations to draw up independent annual reports on the situation and perspectives of SMEs for the period 1997-2000. The reports, to be drawn up with the coordination of the Community institutions and possibly in association with other partners, are to involve the entire European Economic Area, and enable an improved analysis of the impact of the single market on SMEs, concerning in particular: - The environment of European enterprises, including the craft industry; - The performance of SMEs in relation to their environment; - The objectives and measures of the enterprise policy likely to affect the behaviour or economic performance of SMEs. In addition each report must contain two in-depth thematic studies, one of which will cover an activity and the other a field of particular importance for SMEs. The tender documents may be obtained from: European Commission DG XXIII - Enterprise policy, distributive trades, tourism and cooperatives Unit B/1 200 rue de la Loi (AN80-4/74) B-1049 Brussels Fax +32-2-2955540 Tenders must be sent to the same address.