Council Decision on programme for enterprise, in particular for SMEs
A Council Decision now published in the Official Journal of the European Communities concerns a multiannual programme of Community measures to intensify the priority areas and to ensure the continuity and consolidation of policy for enterprise, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the Community (Decision 93/379/EEC of 14.6.1993). The objectives of the programme, adopted from 1 July 1993 to 31 December 1996, are: I. To intensify the priority measures for enterprise policy in order to stimulate growth in the Community: - Improvement of the administrative and legislative environment; - Better access to Community information for enterprises, including better adaptation of the Euro Info Centre network to the new requirements of SMEs, with advice to companies likely to take part in Community programmes (eg. research, public contracts, improved environmental policy); - Improving the business-partner search network (BC-NET and BCC); - Continued development of instruments permitting direct contact between entrepreneurs and aimed at promoting transnational subcontracting (in particular improving the preparation, implementation and follow-up of actions carried out under the EUROPARTENARIAT and INTERPRISE programmes); - Ensuring full consideration of the interests of SMEs in the various Community initiatives and policies (enterprise-policy instruments, the Structural Funds, research programmes and programmes to develop technological potential). II. To ensure the continuity and consolidation of enterprise policy in order to encourage the europeanization and internationalization of enterprises, particularly SMEs: - Encouraging SMEs, including craft industry enterprises, to adapt to structural changes brought about by the internal market, in particular through information, exchange of experiences and transnational cooperation activities; - Promoting a better financial environment for enterprise; - Promoting better observation of the economic development of enterprises as part of the dynamic of effective implementation of the internal market; - Evaluation and development of enterprise policy. The new programme takes into account the present economic situation requiring an initiative to relaunch growth as well as to stimulate job creation and social and economic cohesion in the Community. It applies to all forms of enterprise, regardless of size or legal structure, but is especially directed at SMEs and enterprise creators. The total amount of ECU 112.2 million deemed necessary for implementation of the programme includes the existing budgetary amount for 1993 of ECU 24.8 million, and therefore also the amount necessary for completion of the existing SME programmes.