Policy highlights overview

Small businesses often have difficulties financing their growth and innovations. The European Commission is working with the Member States to stimulate the provision of loans and venture capital for SMEs.

Getting an innovative firm off the ground or expanding it requires money, but financing SMEs is a risky proposition for financiers. To solve this, Europe needs more investors and banks willing to take the risk, and European entrepreneurs need a better understanding of investors' and banks' concerns in order to be able to provide assurances about the soundness of their proposal.

Standardisation is the voluntary process of developing technical specifications based on consensus among all interested parties (industry including Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), consumers, trade unions, environmental Non Governmental Organisations (NGO), public authorities, etc). It is carried out by independent standards bodies, acting at national, European and international level.

While the use of standards remains voluntary, the European Union has, since the mid-1980s, made an increasing use of standards in support of its policies and legislation.

The performance of European industry is closely linked with its competitiveness, which refers to the competitive position in the world market. This competitive performance is influenced by the business environment, which in turn is created by the regulatory framework both at national and European level.

A strong, competitive and diversified industrial manufacturing value chain is vital for economic well-being in Europe. A competitive industry can lower costs and prices, create new products and improve quality, thus contributing to wealth- and job creation and productivity growth throughout the economy. Manufacturing industry and the associated business services (industrial base) account for more than 50% of private sector employment; 75% of exports, and 80% of private R&D in the EU. Many service industries such as transport, health and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) depend on competitive industry to produce the equipment and hardware which they use. Consequently, a strong and competitive industrial base is essential for of growth and jobs as well as restoring sustainability to the EU economy. Industry is also a key source of innovation and solutions required to meet the societal challenges facing the EU.

In a remarkably short time, economic globalisation has changed the world's economic order, bringing with it new challenges and opportunities. Europe cannot compete in this new environment unless it becomes more innovative and responds more effectively to consumers' needs and preferences.

The European Union possesses extraordinary potential for innovation. Europe has a longstanding tradition of producing breakthrough inventions; it has a wealth of creative people and can build on its cultural diversity. It has laid the foundations for one of the largest single markets in the world, where innovative products and services may be commercialised on a large scale. Historically it has a strong and responsible public sector, which should be capitalised on.

Going global

One of the key objectives of DG Enterprise and Industry is to ensure that the Commission's policies make European enterprises more competitive, thus stimulating economic growth and creating more jobs.

This strategy for growth and jobs, Europe 2020, not only looks inwards at the EU (aiming to make Europe a more attractive place in which to live and work), but also has an external dimension: to ensure that EU companies can compete fairly in the global marketplace, by opening up markets and further liberalising trade.

Non-energy raw materials are vital inputs for the EU’s economy, and are particularly crucial for the development of modern environmentally friendly technologies such as electric cars and photovoltaics.

Europe is building its very own state-of-the-art Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to provide accurate and guaranteed positioning for all types of civilian applications: including car navigators, mobile phones, maritime, road, rail and air transport.

The Security Research & Innovation programme’s primary goal is to protect Europe’s citizens and society from harm, while enabling its economy to recover from man-made or natural disasters.

EU-funded security research projects are developing a wide swath of public-sector capabilities.  For example, there are projects to integrate area-wide situational awareness and alert capabilities so that civil security end-users and first responders can work together interoperably within and across Europe’s regions. Other projects are helping consolidate the EU’s external frontiers, while still others are developing techniques to protect Europe’s critical energy, transport and telecommunications networks from harm. > Full details about our current and past Security Research projects.

The Internal market for goods is one of the Union's most important and continuing priorities which aims to create a user-friendly environment for businesses and consumers.

The main objective of the Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry is to contribute to the design, implementation and improvement of regulatory policy and so make the Internal market work better by removing existing barriers to trade and avoiding the creation of new ones.

The 23 million SMEs in the EU represent 99% of businesses, and are a key driver for economic growth, innovation, employment and social integration. The European Commission aims to promote successful entrepreneurship and improve the business environment for SMEs, to allow them to realise their full potential in today's global economy.

The regulatory environment in which the EU industry and enterprises operate influences their competitiveness and their ability to grow and create jobs. The Commission has been committed to developing a better regulatory environment for them; one that is simple, understandable, effective and enforceable.

The better regulation agenda has already led to a significant change in how the Commission makes policy and proposes to regulate.

Europe needs an effective space policy that will allow the EU to take the global lead in selected strategic policy areas. Space can provide the tools to address many of the global challenges that face society in the twenty-first century: challenges that Europe must take a leading role in addressing.

Sustainable development has economic, environmental and social dimensions, and is an overarching goal of the European Union. Competitiveness and sustainability are mutually reinforcing concepts. DG Enterprise and Industry aims to create the conditions in which European enterprises can thrive, so helping to maximise their contribution to sustainable development.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a necessary and natural counterpart to the drive for a more competitive Europe. Responsible business behaviour is crucial for building trust towards the market economy, trade openness and globalisation.