A4-0249/96

Proposal for a Council Decision on a third multiannual programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union (1997 to 2000) (COM(96)0098 - C4-0232/96 - 96/0087(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Title

>Original text>

Proposal for a Council Decision on a third multiannual programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union (1997 to 2000)

>Text following EP vote>

Proposal for a Council Decision on a third multiannual programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and craft trades in the European Union (1997 to 2000)

(Amendment 2)

Recital 3a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

3a. Whereas SMEs make a major contribution towards entrenching the role of industry in the European Union, thereby counteracting the trend towards the relocation of businesses; whereas the social role played by SMEs, in particular through personal relations with customers and staff, the scope for personal development offered to many businessmen and businesswomen, and the presence of SMEs in rural areas should not be underestimated;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 6a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

6a. Whereas the principle of subsidiarity must be respected when this multiannual programme is implemented; whereas this should not be an obstacle to assisting SMEs which do not operate in more than one country in overcoming their structural weaknesses;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 9

>Original text>

9. Whereas this Decision is especially directed at SMEs7, regardless of sector, legal structure and geographical location, and provides for specific actions in favour of the craft sector and enterprises in commerce and distribution;

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7 As defined in the Commission recommendation concerning the definition of SMEs (doc C 96/261).

>Text following EP vote>

9. Whereas this Decision is especially directed at SMEs, as defined in the Commission recommendation of 3 April 1996 (C 96/261), regardless of sector, legal structure and geographical location, and provides for specific actions in favour of the craft sector and micro-enterprises, small enterprises, enterprises in commerce and distribution, women, young entrepreneurs and enterprises owned by minorities; whereas it is also applicable to persons engaged in the liberal professions;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 9a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

9a. Whereas, where appropriate, a selective approach should be adopted, both towards defining the measures taken pursuant to this programme and towards the evaluation of the implementation of such measures, as a function of the different segments of SMEs as defined in the Commission recommendation referred to above;

(Amendment 8)

Recital 10, second indent a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

- improving the integration and organization of SMEs, especially small enterprises and craft trades, in the single market;

(Amendment 6)

Recital 10a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

10a. Whereas SMEs may not have all the facilities for cooperation to which they are driven by increased competition on the internal market, with particular regard to the difficulties which SMEs encounter compared with large chains; whereas, therefore, there is an urgent need for the Green Paper on vertical agreements planned by the Commission in the context of its competition policy;

(Amendment 7)

Recital 10b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

10b. Whereas the activities of SMEs are hampered in the various Member States by an excessive amount of bureaucratic rules in matters relating to administration, taxation and labour relations, which not only restricts their potential for developing a European and international profile but also creates discrimination because these rules differ from one state to another;

(Amendment 49)

Recital 10c (new)

>Text following EP vote>

10c. Whereas an overwhelming majority of businesses involved in tourism are small or medium-sized; whereas both this programme and the PHILOXENIA multiannual programme for European tourism should therefore combine initiatives within a common general framework in which the distinctive nature of SMEs involved in tourism is given prominence;

(Amendment 9)

Recital 13

>Original text>

13. Whereas it is therefore necessary to adopt a third programme for a four-year period and to endow it with sufficient resources to attain its objectives;

>Text following EP vote>

13. Whereas it is therefore necessary to adopt a third programme for a four-year period and to endow it with sufficient resources to attain its objectives; whereas the credibility of an approach which focuses on SMEs and the feasibility of the intended objectives require budgetary funding to take account of the recent enlargement of the Community;

(Amendment 10)

Recital 14a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

14a. Whereas the various SME organizations have been consulted on the multiannual programme and will be consulted again in connection with its implementation;

(Amendment 11)

Recital 14b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

14b. Whereas the total appropriation for this programme covered by the ceiling of own-resources presupposes the revision of heading 3 'internal policies' of the Financial Perspective;

(Amendment 50)

Article 1, second paragraph (new)

>Text following EP vote>

This programme shall be coordinated, as regards those aspects which affect SMEs involved in tourism, with the PHILOXENIA multiannual programme (1997-2000) for European tourism.

(Amendment 53)

Article 2(1), introduction

>Original text>

1. simplify and improve the administrative and regulatory business environment:

>Text following EP vote>

1. simplify and improve the administrative and regulatory business environment while preserving a high level of environmental protection and social security for employees:

(Amendment 13)

Article 2(1), third indent

>Original text>

- increase transparency and the spread of best practices on simplifying and improving the administrative and regulatory environment,

>Text following EP vote>

- increase transparency and the spread of best practices on simplifying and improving the administrative, fiscal and regulatory environment,

(Amendment 51)

Article 2(1), fourth indent a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

- bring about full participation by a specific representative of SMEs and their employees in European social dialogue,

(Amendment 15)

Article 2(2), fourth indent a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

- stimulate small entrepreneurs and those starting up businesses by providing an attractive tax situation,

(Amendment 48)

Article 2(2), fourth indent b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

- allow the application of the reduced rate of VAT to labour-intensive services,

(Amendment 18)

Article 2(3), indent -1 (new)

>Text following EP vote>

- promote access by SMEs to the information society,

(Amendment 16)

Article 2(3), first indent

>Original text>

- develop information services,

>Text following EP vote>

- develop information services and improve their adaptation to the requirements of enterprises, particularly by developing a partnership with the existing recognized professional organizations for aid to SMEs, including those for the craft trades,

(Amendment 17)

Article 2(3), sixth indent a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

- stimulate the development of and access to venture capital,

(Amendment 19)

Article 2(4), second indent a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

- improve advisory aid to SMEs, particularly in the craft trades and small enterprises,

(Amendment 55)

Article 2(4), third indent

>Original text>

- adaptation to environmental requirements;

>Text following EP vote>

- adaptation to environmental requirements and developing environmentally friendly production and distribution schemes;

(Amendment 56)

Article 2(4), third indent a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

- stimulate the participation of the workforce;

(Amendment 20)

Article 2(5), second indent

>Original text>

- craft and small enterprises,

>Text following EP vote>

- craft and small enterprises and micro-enterprises,

(Amendment 21)

Article 2(5), fourth indent a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

- promote the inclusion by training establishments of entrepreneurship as a study topic.

(Amendment 22)

Article 2(5), second paragraph

>Original text>

policy development and improvement of knowledge about SMEs.

>Text following EP vote>

6. improve awareness of policy instruments in favour of SMEs.

(Amendment 23)

Article 2, second paragraph (new)

>Text following EP vote>

In determining the specific measures to implement this programme and in evaluating such measures the target group shall, where necessary, be determined for each measure as a function of the size of enterprise.

(Amendments 24, 57 and 58)

Article 4

>Original text>

1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee of an advisory nature composed of the representatives of the Member States and chaired by a representative of the Commission.

>Text following EP vote>

1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee of an advisory nature composed of one representative per Member State and a delegate of the European Trade Union Confederation and chaired by a representative of the Commission.

>Original text>

2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote.

>Text following EP vote>

2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote.

>Original text>

3. The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition, each Member State shall have the right to ask to have its position recorded in the minutes.

>Text following EP vote>

3. The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition, each Member State and the trade union delegate shall have the right to ask to have its position recorded in the minutes.

>Original text>

4. The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the committee. It shall inform the committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account.

>Text following EP vote>

4. The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the committee. It shall inform the committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account. Committee meetings shall in principle be public, save where a specific, duly substantiated decision to the contrary is taken and published in good time. The committee shall publish its agendas two weeks before the meetings. It shall publish the minutes of its meetings. It shall draw up a public register of declarations of interest by its members.

(Amendment 25)

Article 5(2)

>Original text>

2. The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions a regular report on the development of the inclusion of the SME dimension in all Community policies and programmes.

>Text following EP vote>

2. The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions an annual report on the development of the inclusion of the SME dimension in all Community policies and programmes.

(Amendment 26)

Article 8(2)

>Original text>

2. The budgetary authority shall determine the appropriations available for each financial year in accordance with the principles of good management referred to in Article 2 of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

>Text following EP vote>

2. The budgetary authority shall determine the appropriations for each financial year according to the schedule adopted for the duration of the programme and in accordance with the principles of good management and cost- effectiveness analysis referred to in Articles 2 and 3 of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

(Amendment 27)

Annex (A.1)

>Original text>

Integration of the SME dimension into the conception of Community policies. Promotion of the coordination of Community actions in favour of SMEs which enable SMEs to participate fully in all Community actions and programmes, including the Structural Funds, R& TD, international cooperation and environmental programmes.

>Text following EP vote>

Integration of the SME dimension into the conception of Community policies. Promotion of the coordination of Community actions in favour of SMEs which enable SMEs to participate fully in all Community actions and programmes, including the Structural Funds, R& TD, international cooperation and environmental programmes as well as competition policy and EMU. Analysis of the situation of and the difficulties encountered by small enterprises and craft trades in Community actions and programmes. Systematic consultation of organizations representing SMEs, including those representing small enterprises and craft trades; achievement of full participation in the European social dialogue by a body specifically representing SMEs; increase in the resources made available to DG XXIII, more particularly in the field of small enterprises, craft industries, and trade and distribution.

(Amendment 28)

Annex (A.2)

>Original text>

Actions to avoid and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens and compliance costs in Community legislation which hinder the creation and development of enterprises, in particular SMEs, through the implementation of a pragmatic methodology for the evaluation of the impact of legislative proposals (including the use of an improved business impact assessment system and cost/benefit analyses wherever appropriate)

>Text following EP vote>

Actions to avoid and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens and compliance costs in Community legislation which hinder the creation and development of enterprises, in particular SMEs, without dismantling social and environmental protection, through the implementation of a pragmatic methodology for the evaluation of the impact of legislative proposals (including the use of an improved business impact assessment system and cost/benefit analyses wherever appropriate).

(Amendments 29 and 52)

Annex (A.3)

>Original text>

Actions to promote the spread of best practices in particular in the field of administrative simplification; promotion of actions on transfer of businesses and retention of title clauses.

>Text following EP vote>

Actions to promote a rapid and broad spread of best practices in particular in the field of administrative simplification; purposeful and specific actions to encourage the Member States to make real progress in eliminating excessive national bureaucratic, administrative, fiscal and social regulations which hamper enterprise and often give rise to discrimination between Member States; promotion of actions on transfer of businesses, retention of title clauses and prevention and monitoring cells; simplification of the transfer of businesses, both through statutory, financial and fiscal measures and through supporting, and implementing at Community level, existing national transfer systems.

(Amendment 30)

Annex (B.1)

>Original text>

Promotion of innovative practices in the field of better access of SMEs to loan financing (including mutual guarantee schemes, round table of bankers and SMEs).

>Text following EP vote>

Promotion of innovative practices in the field of better access of SMEs, in particular small enterprises and those run by women, to loan financing (including mutual guarantee schemes, Community guarantee systems such as ELISE which are specifically intended for small enterprises, round table of bankers and SMEs). Promotion of equal fiscal treatment of equity capital and capital from outside sources.

(Amendment 31)

Annex (B.3)

>Original text>

Promotion of the development of specific financial instruments of interest to SMEs, in particular factoring and credit insurance.

>Text following EP vote>

Promotion of the development of specific financial instruments of interest to SMEs, in particular factoring and credit insurance and venture capital funds.

(Amendment 32)

Annex (B.4), new paragraph

>Text following EP vote>

Come forward with proposals for removing some remaining regulatory barriers (including restrictions on investments by pension funds) to the effective and successful running of a European capital market for fast-growing SMEs

(Amendment 33)

Annex (B.4a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

B.4a. Analyse the specific requirements of small enterprises and craft trades and the means for meeting them

>Text following EP vote>

Improvement of access to loans. Research into adapting EIB and EIF financing to the smallest enterprises. Study, creation and development of financial tools specifically adapted to the requirements of those enterprises.

(Amendment 34)

Annex (C.1)

>Original text>

C.1 Development of information services (Euro-Info-Centres as 'First Stop Shops')

>Text following EP vote>

C.1 Development of information services (Euro-Info-Centres as 'First Stop Shops') without blurring the distinction between, or overlapping with, information organizations

>Original text>

Better access to Community information for enterprises: development of the Euro-Info-Centre network as a 'First-stop-shop', directing each request to the relevant service provider; improvement of the composition and quality of services; enlarge and reinforce the information task of the EICs including proactive information activities, in particular in the areas of accessing Community programmes, the internal market, internationalization, environmental issues and the introduction of the single currency; facilitating access of SMEs to market information.

>Text following EP vote>

Better access to Community information for enterprises: development of the Euro-Info-Centre network as a 'First-Stop-Shop', directing each request to the relevant service provider; improvement of the composition of the network by applying existing evaluation methods; further professionalization of the information task of the EICs including proactive information activities, in particular in the areas of accessing Community programmes, the internal market, internationalization, environmental issues and the introduction of the single currency; facilitating access of SMEs to market information.

(Amendment 35)

Annex (C.1), second paragraph (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Maximize the efficient use of these networks by all types of SMEs by making use of synergies: strengthen and improve partnership between these information networks and recognized professional organizations which traditionally have the closest contact with SMEs, with particular regard to small enterprises and craft trades.

(Amendment 36)

Annex (C.2)

>Original text>

Promotion campaigns in coordination with EIC network; organization of European Business Weeks.

>Text following EP vote>

General and decentralized promotion campaigns in coordination with EIC network; organization of European Business Weeks.

(Amendment 37)

Annex (C.6)

>Original text>

Test innovative approaches in particular by facilitating SMEs' access to new markets and encourage their internationalization.

>Text following EP vote>

Test innovative approaches in particular by facilitating SMEs' access to new markets and encourage their internationalization. The Commission should develop an instrument enabling small and medium-sized enterprises to make optimum use of the internal market.

(Amendment 47)

Annex (C.6), second paragraph (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Promote access of SMEs and craft trade enterprises to the information society.

(Amendment 39)

Annex (D.1)

>Original text>

Identify best practices and test concrete approaches through pilot actions, in particular in the fields of developing firms with growth potential and new- technology-based firms (NTBFs).

>Text following EP vote>

Identify best practices and test concrete approaches through pilot actions, in particular in the fields of developing firms with growth potential and new- technology-based Firms (NTBFs). Rapid and wide-scale dissemination of the results of pilot actions as examples of successful business experience.

(Amendment 40)

Annex (D.2)

>Original text>

Helping to identify and test positive approaches in the field of management training (mainly through pilot projects).

>Text following EP vote>

Helping to identify and test positive approaches in the field of management training and consultancy services tailored to SMEs (mainly through pilot projects).

(Amendment 41)

Annex (D.2a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

D.2a Targeted vocational training

Aiming in particular at encouraging women in SMEs to acquire new skills in non-traditional areas of female employment.

(Amendment 42)

Annex (D.3a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

D.3a Improve advisory aid to SMEs, particularly in the craft trades and small enterprises.

(Amendment 43)

Annex (E.1), second paragraph (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Dissemination of data which illustrate the social and economic value of entrepreneurship and SMEs.

(Amendment 44)

Annex (E.2) title

>Original text>

E.2. Craft and small enterprises

>Text following EP vote>

E.2. Craft and small enterprises and micro enterprises

(Amendment 45)

Annex (E.4)

>Original text>

Identification of the specific problems faced by women and young entrepreneurs, as well as small enterprises owned by minorities, and support for innovative schemes.

>Text following EP vote>

Identification of the specific problems faced by women and young entrepreneurs, as well as small enterprises owned by minorities, and support for innovative schemes. Promotion of the position of spouses working in the same enterprise.

(Amendment 46)

Annex, Policy development and improvement of knowledge about SMEs

>Original text>

Improved statistics on SMEs without increasing the burden on enterprises; European Observatory for SMEs; studies; database concerning SME policy measures; evaluation of existing policy actions and development of proposals for new Community measures in areas affecting enterprises.

>Text following EP vote>

Improved statistical information on SMEs under the supervision of Eurostat without increasing the burden on enterprises; European Observatory for SMEs; studies; database concerning SME policy measures; evaluation of existing policy actions and development of proposals for new Community measures in areas yielding added value for enterprises.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision on a third multiannual programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union (1997 to 2000) (COM(96)0098 - C4- 0232/96 - 96/0087(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(96)0098 - 96/0087(CNS) ((OJ C 156, 31.5.1996, p. 5.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 130(3) of the EC Treaty (C4-0232/96),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy and the opinions the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy, the Committee on Legal Affairs and Citizens' Rights, the Committee on Social Affairs and Employment and the Committee on Women's Rights (A4-0249/96),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

5. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and the Commission.