"Small Business Act" for Europe (SBA) - reference documents

Full text of the Small Business Act

Commission Communication of 25 June 2008:

"Think Small First" - A "Small Business Act" for Europe [18 KB] (COM/2008/394 final)

• Press release
• Citizens' summary [29 KB] [203 B]
• Impact Assessment:
  • Full Version [2 MB] [162 KB]
  • Executive Summary [53 KB] [51 KB]
• FAQ [47 KB] [363 KB]
• Brochure: Putting small businesses first [2 MB]

Background documents

Commission Communication of 4 October 2007:

" Small and medium-sized enterprises - Key for delivering more growth and jobs. A mid-term review of Modern SME Policy" [476 KB]

Commission Communication of 11 November 2005:

" Implementing the Community Lisbon Programme - Modern SME Policy for Growth and Employment" [295 KB]

Implementation documents

The Member States

• Competitiveness Council Conclusions of 1 December 2008:
  Conclusions on "Think Small First - A Small Business Act for Europe" [212 KB]
• The Council's Action Plan for a Small Business Act for Europe
  (Annex to the Competitiveness Council Conclusions)
• European Council of 11-12 December 2008 - Presidency conclusions
  (support for the full implementation of the Action Plan for the SBA)
• European Economic Recovery Plan of 26 November 2008
  (far-reaching measures to enhance access to finance for SMEs, to reduce their administrative burden and to promote entrepreneurship)
• Competitiveness Council of 28 May 2009 - press release [247 KB]
  ( Member States agreed unanimously on the importance of strengthening action to improve access to finance and decrease the regulatory burden on businesses.)

The European Parliament

• Report of Ms Edit Herczog on the Small Business Act from 180 February 2009

• European Parliament resolution of 4 December 2008:
  Steps towards improving the environment for SMEs in Europe - Small Business Act

The Commission

• Legislative proposals [14 KB]
• Policy actions [63 KB]

The EU consultative bodies

• Committee of Regions: opinion on the SBA of 12 February 2009
• European Economic and Social Committee: opinion on the SBA of 14 January 2009