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25 November 2010

Public procurement: SMEs disadvantaged

A new study published by the European Commission has found that SMEs are not obtaining a percentage of public procurement contracts proportionate to their economic importance. The 'Evaluation of SMEs� access to public procurement markets in the EU' report found that despite winning an estimated 60% of public procurement contracts published in the Official Journal of the EU, SMEs are securing only 34% of the overall value of these contracts.

This is between 14 and 21 percent lower than their overall weight in the economy. Whilst medium-sized enterprises are not unduly underrepresented in this regard public procurement access for micro and small enterprises is clearly limited. Micro-enterprises secured a share of 6% of public procurement contracts, small enterprises 11% and medium-sized companies 17%.

Vice-President

Antonio Tajani

Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship

"Public procurement represents 19 percent of European GDP. SMEs are the heart of our economy and should have their fair share of public contracts."

Vice-President A. Tajani website

Vice-President Antonio Tajani - Commissioner for Enterprise & Industry

Commission welcomes recovery in the European tourism sector

European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani welcomed recent data on the impressive recovery of Europe's tourism industry as a sign of Europe�s overall economic recovery. The latest figures from Eurostat regarding international arrivals in 2010 indicate that the recovery of the tourism sector is underway, despite having faced problems such as the eruption of the Icelandic volcano. A comparison of the first six months of 2009 and 2010 demonstrate an increase in arrivals of 9% from North America, 8% from Japan, 18% from Russian Federation, 19% from China and an impressive 46% from Brazil. Furthermore, occupancy rates in Europe are up 5.4% in the third quarter of this year and industry figures have improved in every sub-region.

EESC Design Eleven - 2011 European Design Award for a sustainable present

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is launching the second edition of a competition to design an innovative, sustainable and creative design product, including packaging, with a strong civil society message. design students and designers are invited to focus intergenerational solidarity in times of an ageing population.

Commission presents Report on how the European Company Statute works for business

The European Company Statute has made it possible for companies to transfer the registered seat cross-border, to better reorganise and restructure, and to choose between different board structures. However, experience thus far has demonstrated that applying the Statute poses a number of practical problems. For example, the Statute does not result in a uniform SE legal form across the EU.

Commission launches public consultation on future funding to boost EU competitiveness and innovation

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the successor to the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme 2007-2013 (CIP). The CIP is the main EU budgetary instrument targeting competitiveness outside the research and skills areas. Its main priorities are SMEs, access to finance, innovation (including eco-innovation), take-up and use of information and communication technologies (ICT), energy efficiency and renewables.

Commission welcomes recovery in the European tourism sector

EESC Design Eleven - 2011 European Design Award for a sustainable present

Commission presents Report on how the European Company Statute works for business

Commission launches public consultation on future funding to boost EU competitiveness and innovation

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