Training and support services for SMEs

The promotion of training and entrepreneurship is underlined in the conclusions of the European Employment Summit of 20 and 21 November 1997. The European Commission has also recently adopted a communication entitled "Fostering entrepreneurship in Europe: priorities for the fu...

The promotion of training and entrepreneurship is underlined in the conclusions of the European Employment Summit of 20 and 21 November 1997. The European Commission has also recently adopted a communication entitled "Fostering entrepreneurship in Europe: priorities for the future" where a number of actions for encouraging an enterprise culture are set out.

Within this framework, the European Commission, DG XXIII, has published a call for proposals for training projects. These are divided into ten lots, as follows:

- Lot 1: Late payment in commercial transactions;
- Lot 2: The transfer of SMEs from one generation to the next;
- Lot 3: The preparation of SMEs for the introduction of the euro;
- Lot 4: Stimulation of transnational partnerships between structures and programmes for initial and continuing training for cooperatives;
- Lot 5: Access of independents (one-person enterprises) to training;
- Lot 6: Awareness, training and counselling for start-ups by young people;
- Lot 7: Promotion of the elaboration and/or diffusion of recognised training courses for working spouses;
- Lot 8: Promotion of innovative management techniques and methods of work organisation in micro and craft enterprises;
- Lot 9: Innovation management training and advice for small enterprises;
- Lot 10: Promotion of the spirit of enterprise in secondary schools by virtue of partnerships between the education authorities and professional organisations representing the craft and small business sector.
For further information, please contact:

European Commission
DG XXIII - Enterprise policy, distributive trades and tourism
Unit A.3
200 rue de la Loi (AN-80 4/28)
B-1049 Brussels
Fax [phone]