The fifth implementation report of the European charter for small enterprises shows significant progress in the following areas:
- Education for entrepreneurship and fostering entrepreneurial mindsets at school;
- Better regulation and making compliance easier for small businesses;
- Bankruptcy law and facilitating a fresh start;
- Overcoming skills shortages and making education and training more responsive to business needs (especially technicians and engineers).
“Boosting small firms in the EU is a cornerstone of the Commission’s recent “growth and jobs” proposal. The report shows that member states are increasingly learning from each other to improve the environment for business," said Commissioner Günter Verheugen.
The European charter for SMEs, approved in June 2000, directly contributes to the Lisbon goals by calling upon member states and the Commission to take action to support and encourage small enterprises in ten key areas.
