Improvement of the business environment and development of SMEs
On 28 July 1989 the Council adopted Decision 89/490/EEC on the improvement of the business environment and the promotion of the development of enterprises, and in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the Community. A review of the programme has shown that it is necessary to give this policy a new dimension, with a view to the completion of the single market, by supporting the activities of SMEs in dealing with economic realities and the many and growing forms of cooperation between businesses. To this end Council Decision 91/319/EEC of 18 June 1991 increases the appropriation of ECU 110 million for 1990-93 by ECU 25 million. The Decision further calls for an evaluation of the programme results by independent experts and the submission of a report to the Council and European Parliament before 1 November 1992.