Enterprise DG expert group to examine opening up the e-marketplace to SMEs
The European Commission's Enterprise DG has set up an expert group to examine in depth business-to-business (B2B) Internet trading opportunities and possible solutions to the problems that small and medium sized firms have in accessing e-market places. The group met for the first time on 13 November 2002 and is to make recommendations, by July 2003, for actions at European level, in particular in support of self-regulation enhancing trust in B2B e-marketplaces. The recent growth in B2B Internet-based market places, and potential barriers to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) wishing to use them, are outlined in 'B2B Internet Trading Platforms: Opportunities and Barriers for SMEs - A first Assessment', a Commission staff working paper. The expert group will look at issues such as the lack of awareness of the potential risks and benefits, the lack of reliable information on Internet platforms, business partners, products and services and the lack of trust in electronic transactions.