Competing in the Single Market - SMEs and ... - Erhvervsstyrelsen

Table 19: B4 National Rankings of Areas of the European Charter for SMEsArea of theCharter1. Educationand training forentrepreneurship2. Cheaper andfaster start-up3. Betterlegislation andregulation4. Availability ofskills5. Improvingonline access6. More out of thesingle market7. Taxation andfinancial matters8. Strengthenthe technologicalcapacity of smallenterprises9. Sucessful e-business modelsand top-classbusiness support10. Developstronger,more effectiverepresentation ofsmall enterprises’interestsSource: European Commission (2003s)Overall, it appears that the B4 countries have focused on and made much progress with developingthose areas where SME needs and structural impact are greatest, namely in the areas of better legislationand regulation, cheaper and faster start-up, and taxation and financial matters. In the future, policyaction will need to expand its focus to include other mechanisms to foster SME development, namelyeducation and training for entrepreneurship, availability of skills, more out of the single market, andstrengthening the technological capacity of small enterprises.EU Structural FundsIn which areasdo SME needstend to fall?Which areashave higheststructural impacton improvingthe businessenvironment inyour country?- 2 (E)2 (PL)1 (PL) 2 (LV)3 (PL)3 (LV)2 (LT)2 (PL)3 (E) 1 (E)3 (LT)In what areas toyou believe yoursmall businessenvironment ismost developed?In what areas toyou foresee mostpolicy action inthe coming 12months?1 (PL) 3 (LT)1 (LV)2 (LT)3 (E) 2 (LV)3 (LT)3 (E)1 (LT)- 2 (E)2 (PL)1(E)2 (E)2 (LV)1 (LT)3 (PL)3 (LV)2 (LT)1 (LV)1 (PL)1 (E)3 (LV)1 (PL)3 (E)2 (LV)2 (PL)1 (E)2 (LT)3 (LV)1 (LV)3 (PL)- 1 (LT) - 2 (E)1 (LT)3 (LT) - - -1 (LV) - 3 (PL) -Within the framework of the EU Structural Funds, some €16 billion 23 are being spent on SMEtargetedprojects in the period 2000-2006. Approximately one third of this Community aid to SMEs23This corresponds to approximately 11% of the total budget of the Structural Funds.73