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"Small Business Act" for Europe
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Improving the business environment
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Promoting Entrepreneurship
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Access to markets
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Facts and figures
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Good practices in SME policy
"Small Business Act" for Europe
Adopted in June 2008, the "Small Business Act" for Europe 
[18 KB] (SBA) reflects the Commission's political will to recognise the central role of SMEs in the EU economy and for the first time puts into place a comprehensive SME policy framework for the EU and its Member States.
It aims to improve the overall approach to entrepreneurship, to irreversibly anchor the "Think Small first" principle in policy making from regulation to public service, and to promote SMEs' growth by helping them tackle the remaining problems which hamper their development.
The Small Business Act for Europe applies to all companies which are independent and have fewer than 250 employees: 99% of all European businesses.
"Now is the time, once and for all, to cement the needs of SMEs in the forefront of the EU's policy. The SBA brings the full weight of Europe behind SMEs - enlisting all the resources of Europe to help small business in their daily business and to clear the path for those that want to create more jobs and grow in Europe and beyond."
Günter Verheugen, European Commission Vice-President, responsible for Enterprise and Industry
What is the "Small Business Act" for Europe?
- a set of 10 principles which should guide the conception and implementation of policies both at EU and national level. This is essential to create a level playing field for SMEs throughout the EU and improve the administrative and legal environment to allow these enterprises to release their full potential to create jobs and
growth; - an ambitious package of concrete and far reaching new measures including 4 legislative proposals which translate these principles into action both at EU and Member State level;
- is designed to be adopted by the European Council to ensure the full political commitment of both the Commission and the Member States together with regular monitoring of its implementation.