Small Business Act for Europe

Adopted in June 2008, the Small Business Act for Europe 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, permanently 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 symbolic name of an “Act” given to this initiative underlines the political will to recognise the central role of SMEs in the EU economy and to put in place for the first time a comprehensive policy framework for the EU and its Member States through a set of 10 principles to guide the conception and implementation of policies both at EU and Member State level. These principles are essential to bring added value at EU level, create a level playing field for SMEs and improve the legal and administrative environment throughout the EU:

I Create an environment in which entrepreneurs and family businesses can thrive and entrepreneurship is rewarded.

II Ensure that honest entrepreneurs who have faced bankruptcy quickly get a second chance.

III Design rules according to the “Think Small First” principle.

IV Make public administrations responsive to SMEs’ needs.

V Adapt public policy tools to SME needs: facilitate SMEs’ participation in public procurement and better use State Aid possibilities for SMEs.

VI Facilitate SMEs’ access to finance and develop a legal and business environment supportive to timely payments in commercial transactions.

VII Help SMEs to benefit more from the opportunities offered by the Single Market

VIII Promote the upgrading of skills in SMEs and all forms of innovation.

IX Enable SMEs to turn environmental challenges into opportunities.

X Encourage and support SMEs to benefit from the growth of markets.

As part of the Review of the Small Business Act for Europe, the Commission invited Member States to nominate a national SME Envoy to complement the role of the European Commission's SME Envoy. Director General of the Slovak Business Agency who was appointed as the Slovak SME Envoy is also acting as the representative for the Small Business Act.

Work group for the problems of Small Business Act was established in 2013 under the patronage of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic with Chairman Branislav Safarik, Slovak SME Envoy. The activities of the Work group include a preparation and implementation of significant measures and policies in the area of SME development, consultations on recommendations and tasks of the EU and preparation of measures supporting SME growth with aim to increase regional employment and to maintain sustainable SME growth. Members of the Work group include representatives of the Slovak Business Agency and representatives of 9 Slovak ministries.

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