International activities
The Directorate-General (DG) for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs helps the internationalisation of European businesses and their competitiveness in order to generate growth and jobs. The mission goes beyond the need to explore opportunities in foreign markets. It also lies in the neccesity to work for the good integration of EU companies in international value chains and to ensure a level-playing field where imports are concerned.
Ensuring a level playing field for EU businesses
We work to ensure a fair and level playing field for European businesses so that they can exploit opportunities in non-EU markets.
Cooperation with governments
We coordinate and organise regulatory and industrial policy dialogues with many of the EU's strategic partners. This important activity aims to achieve a greater convergence of the rules affecting global business, reducing barriers and costs and making it easier for European companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to do business on an international scale. The dialogues cover issues such as standards, conformity assessment and innovation, and certain industry sectors, including space.
Cooperation with regions and international bodies
DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs promotes industrial cooperation, SMEs, entrepreneurship and inclusive sustainable development with Mediterranean and Eastern neighbour countries as part of the European Neighbourhood Policy. DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs also works with the Latin American region on initiatives that primarily target small businesses and with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) on issues including entrepreneurship, space policy and tourism.
Trade negotiations
DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs is involved in international trade and investment negotiations at multilateral (World Trade Organization) and bilateral level (negotiations for Free Trade Agreements and Economic Partnership Agreements).
Supporting the internationalisation of EU businesses
EU instruments
We put in place various EU instruments that contribute to the internationalisation of European businesses as access to markets outside the EU is essential for European industry. These instruments have been put in place in the framework of several EU programmes such as COSME, the Instrument for Cooperation with Industrialised Countries, the Partnership Instrument, the European Neighborhood Instrument, and structural and investment funds.
Overview of EU Instruments contributing to the Internationalisation of European Businesses
Business Beyond Borders
The Business Beyond Borders project helps businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and clusters in particular, to operate internationally with the goal of increasing economic growth both within and outside Europe. As part of the project, a series of business-to-business (B2B) and cluster-to-cluster (C2C) matchmaking events are organised, while additional support is given to companies participating at international fairs, particularly in target markets (Australia, South Africa, India, Chile and Iran, among others).
See also: SME internationalisation beyond the EU
Other actions
Enlarging the EU
DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs contributes to the enlargement process by defining policy priorities related to its portfolio for the countries who want to join the EU.
Europe 2020
DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs also ensures that enterprise interests and expertise are taken into account in the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy for growth.
Useful links
- The European Business Organisation (EBO) Worldwide Network represents EU business associations and chambers of commerce in non-EU countries. It is the only network that represents EU-wide business interests outside the EU. It allows European business organisations to share information and best practices with the network’s members and stakeholders. It was established in 2001 with the support of the DG and currently extends to 26 countries.
- The Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) runs a number of EU foreign policy actions. It is a service of the European Commission which works alongside the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU’s ‘diplomatic service’.
- The Enterprise Europe Network helps SMEs make the most of business opportunities in the EU and beyond.
- EU trade policies with countries and regions of the world from the DG TRADE website.