Commission announces measures to assist SMEs
The European Commission has added 28 new Euro Info Centres (EICs) to its network, thus ensuring that more small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) will gain access to information and advice on the internal market and other relevant EU policies. The biggest beneficiary of the EIC network expansion is Turkey, where almost a third of the new centres will be based. This follows the country's inclusion in the multi-annual programme for enterprises (2001 to 2005), after the decision was taken to grant Turkey applicant status for EU membership in 1999. The remaining new EICs will be spread among 13 other Member States, candidate and acceding countries. With these latest additions, the EIC network now consists of 321 offices in 42 countries. Commissioner for Enterprise and the Information Society, Erkki Liikanen, said: 'This is good news for small and medium sized enterprises. In the framework of the Lisbon strategy [...] EU action is essential to foster a more entrepreneurial Europe. The extension of the Euro Info Centre network brings our objective of offering concrete business support to as many companies as possible a step closer.' Also on 19 December, the Commission announced that it was simplifying its rules governing the provision of State aid for research and development (R&D) for SMEs. Under new plans, which will come into force in January 2005, Member States will be able to grant R&D aid (below a certain threshold) to small companies without having to notify the Commission, thereby speeding up the process and reducing the administrative burden. In addition, the new definition of a small or medium sized enterprise, adopted in 2003, will be integrated into the Commission regulations on training aid and on aid to SMEs.