Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

The 20 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.

What does the EU do?

The European Commission works on broad policy issues affecting entrepreneurship and SMEs across Europe, as well as on the mechanisms delivering support to SMEs (networks, business support measures). It takes action in favour of both existing and potential entrepreneurs. Special attention is given to specific forms of entrepreneurship, such as women entrepreneurs, crafts or social economy enterprises.

All the actions supporting SMEs and entrepreneurship have a unique and comprehensive framework which is the Small Business Act for Europe (SBA), which Member States have committed to implement alongside the European Commission.

Since SMEs have to be supported at local level, the Commission's activities also consist in helping Member States and the regions to develop policies aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, improving the situation of SMEs throughout their life cycle, and helping them to access new markets. The identification and exchange of good practices are key elements of this policy.

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