Commission publishes guidelines to prepare enterprises in new Member States for an enlarged Europe
The European Commission published guidelines aimed at helping enterprises in the new Member States prepare for doing business in an enlarged Europe on 28 March. The overview, entitled 'enlargement: what can enterprises in the Member States expect?' consists of information about EU business support mechanisms, measures to improve the business environment, and rules and standards for industrial goods. Particular attention is given the current business environment and the impact of enlargement on different sectors in the acceding countries. Entrepreneurs are also provided with a checklist of what to look for when setting up a company, searching for external advice or training on business development, and searching for business partners abroad. The document also provides information for small and medium sized enterprises, including details about support schemes, enterprise related programmes and access to finance, business related information and networking, and EU support for innovation.