The Commission intends to propose new initiatives to encourage SME participation in business cooperation and matchmaking events, especially in border regions.
3. Cutting red tape, including the integration of 'Think Small First' principle in all EU policies and the simplification of rules and legislation, for example related to State aids or SMEs' participation in EU programmes.
The Commission will examine the SME dimension when assessing the impact of EU legislation and ensure that SMEs' needs are properly and systematically taken into account. This will include longer transition periods, reduced fees, simplified reporting requirements or even exemptions from EU rules.
4. Improving SMEs' growth potential, including actions to strengthen the innovation and research capacity of SMEs and increasing the existing financial support to SMEs.
The Commission will undertake further measures to encourage and facilitate SME participation in the 7th Framework Programme for Research and to deliver specific support to SMEs in the field of intellectual property rights (IPR), through the EU business support networks.
5. Strengthening dialogue and consultation with SME stakeholders, including actions to create SME panels to get views from SMEs in specific areas of policy making and to launch a “European Enterprise Awards” to promote entrepreneurship and to facilitate the exchange of best practices at regional level.
The Commission plans to create a quick and easy-to-use consultation mechanism (“SME panel”) via the Euro Info Centre network to get views from SMEs in specific areas of policy making.
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