Council Decision
of 20 December 2000
on a multiannual programme for enterprise and entrepreneurship, and in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (2001-2005)
(2000/819/EC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 157(3) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),
Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament(2),
Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(3),
Having regard to the Opinion of the Committee of the Regions(4),
Whereas:
(1) The importance of enterprise and entrepreneurship for the achievement of Community objectives and the difficulties faced by enterprises and entrepreneurs have been the subject of a number of communications, Decisions and reports, and most recently of the Commission Communication of 26 April 2000 on "enterprise policy in the knowledge-driven economy". These have identified major areas for action at Community level.
(2) Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make a significant contribution in terms of competitiveness, research, innovation, skills and employment and face particular problems.
(3) Action is required to help overcome these difficulties. A series of Programmes, particularly the Third Multiannual Programme for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union (1997-2000), adopted by Council Decision 97/15/EC(5), which expires on 31 December 2000, have provided a framework for such action.
(4) On 29 June 1999, the Commission reported in its Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the external evaluation of the said programme.
(5) It is necessary to adopt a further programme for the period beginning 1 January 2001 and to ensure that enterprise policy is endowed with sufficient resources to attain its objectives.
(6) On 9 November 1999, the Council approved a report on the integration of sustainable development in the enterprise policy of the European Union. Account should be taken of sustainable development when defining and implementing the measures to be adopted under this programme.
(7) On 20 June 2000, the Santa Maria da Feira European Council approved the European Charter for Small Enterprises and requested its full implementation in particular as part of the proposals for the Multiannual Programme for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. Measures by the Union to promote SMEs should take account of the objectives set out in the Charter.
(8) Similar actions have been launched in the framework of the OECD, and in particular with the Charter on policies concerning SMEs adopted by the OECD Ministers for Industry in Bologna on 15 June 2000.
(9) On 7 November 2000, the Council emphasised the need to improve significantly the financing of innovative companies and to redirect financial instruments towards support for new business start-ups, high-tech firms and micro-enterprises.
(10) The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission(6).
(11) This Decision constitutes the legal basis for specific complementary measures which are not part of other Community policies and which cannot be better carried out at Member State level.
(12) The Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) concluded with the EFTA/EEA countries and the additional protocols to the Association Agreements concluded with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe provide for participation of those countries in Community programmes. Provision should also be made for participation by Cyprus, Malta and Turkey in the framework of the Association Agreements concluded with those countries. Participation by other countries could be considered when agreements and procedures so allow.
(13) A financial reference, within the meaning of point 34 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure(7), is included in this Decision for the whole duration of the programme, although this will not affect the powers of the budget authority as defined by the Treaty,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
A programme for Community policy for enterprise and entrepreneurship, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), hereinafter referred to as "this programme", is hereby adopted for a period of five years from 1 January 2001.
Article 2
1. This programme shall have the following objectives:
(a) to enhance the growth and competitiveness of business in a knowledge-based internationalised economy;
(b) to promote entrepreneurship;
(c) to simplify and improve the administrative and regulatory framework for business so that research, innovation and business creation in particular can flourish;
(d) to improve the financial environment for business, especially SMEs;
(e) to give business easier access to Community support services, programmes and networks and to improve the coordination of these facilities.
2. These objectives shall be implemented mainly via the areas of action described in Annex I.
3. Furthermore, by its very nature, this programme shall be used as a means of progressing towards the objectives set by the European Charter for Small Enterprises.
Article 3
1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Enterprise Programme Management Committee, (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee").
2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply.
The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months.
3. The Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.
Article 4
1. The measures and actions necessary for implementing this programme relating to the matters referred to below shall be adopted in accordance with the management procedure referred to in Article 3(2):
- the annual working programme and the corresponding budget allocations;
- the criteria and content of invitations to tender exceeding EUR 100000;
- the performance indicators for evaluating the actions needed to achieve the objectives set out in Article 2.
2. The Committee shall, moreover, be kept regularly informed of any other question concerning this programme, in particular of the annual implementation report and the evaluation reports mentioned in Article 5(1).
Article 5
1. The Commission shall evaluate the implementation of this programme and shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions:
- every two years, an evaluation report on progress made in taking account, in a coordinated manner,
- of enterprise policy in Community policies and programmes as a whole,
- of the implementation of the European Charter for Small Enterprises,
- an external evaluation report by the end of December 2004.
2. These reports shall examine whether the objectives of this programme have been achieved. They shall undertake a cost-benefit analysis of the measures and actions implemented, particularly on the basis of the performance indicators referred to in the third indent of Article 4(1).
Article 6
This programme shall be open to the participation of:
- the EFTA/EEA countries in accordance with the conditions established in the EEA agreement;
- the associated central and eastern European countries (CEEC) in accordance with the conditions established in the Europe Agreements, in the additional protocols thereto and in the decisions of the respective Association Councils;
- Cyprus, funded by additional appropriations in accordance with procedures to be agreed with that country;
- Malta and Turkey, funded by additional appropriations, in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty;
- other countries, when agreements and procedures so allow.
Article 7
1. The financial reference amount for the implementation of this programme shall be EUR 450 million.
2. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective.
Article 8
This Decision shall take effect on 1 January 2001 and shall cover the period to 31 December 2005.
Article 9
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 20 December 2000.