Environmental compliance assistance programme for SMEs : small, clean and competitive.
Date: 2008-05-15
Institutions: Directorate-General for Environment
Subjects: EU programme, administrative formalities, aid to undertakings, clean technology, environmental protection, exchange of information, small and medium-sized enterprises

Assistance where you need it

Businesses need to be able to fi nd local experts to advise 
them if they are to be successful in improving their envi-
ronmental  performances. The  Commission  is  creating  a 
network of environmental expertise in business support 
organisations throughout Europe, including business asso-
ciations, chambers of commerce and other  organisations 
that support SMEs.

These advisors can tell companies what their legal require-
ments are and what benefi ts they will gain from improved 
sustainability. They  can  also  help  develop  partnerships 
between organisations and enable SMEs to access support 
programmes and funding opportunities.

The network includes the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), 
which  was  launched  in  early  2008  as  a  one-stop-shop 
support network for enterprises seeking assistance with 
business and innovation issues in the EU. 

With  over  600  partner  organisations  and  4 000  experts 
in  40  countries,  the  EEN  off ers  SMEs  both  local  knowl-
edge  and  European  expertise  on  environmental  issues. 
The  network  also  aims  to  improve  the  relationship  be-
tween the European Commission and business, provid ing 
feedback that can shape EU legislation to help SMEs with 
the diffi  culties that they face with compliance.

www.enterprise-europe-network.ec.europa.eu/

ON THE WEB

Confused about environmental legislation?

Not sure how to improve the environmental 
performance of your business?

The EU’s ECAP website has the answers:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/sme

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

The ECAP programme and how it works 

E-alerts on the latest environmental news and developments

The areas of EU environmental legislation relevant to SMEs

Funding opportunities across the EU

Case studies of successful actions

•  Details of ECAP training seminars around Europe

• 

Training package for SME support networks

•  On-line toolkits and publications 

• 

Contact details for local environmental experts and support 

organisations

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/sme

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Environmental 
Compliance Assistance 
Programme for SMEs 

Small,
Clean and
Competitive

• Better regulation
•  Environmental management
• Funding 
• Information
• Local expertise

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A helping hand

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can fi nd it dif-
fi cult  to  improve  their  environmental  performances  and 
meet legal requirements. 

The  European  Commission  has  established  the 
Environmental Compliance Assistance Programme (ECAP) 
to provide companies with the resources and know-how to 
green their operations.

Actions  aim  to  minimise  the  administrative  burden  and 
help  SMEs  to   implement  environmental  management 
systems. Financial aid is  available, and local networks and 
targeted communication are both there to provide  support 
and information.

Cutting red tape

Environmental  legislation  can  be 
complex  and  difficult  for  SMEs  to 
understand. Companies can often be 
unaware of which rules apply to them 
and the steps that they must take.

The Commission, national and regional 
authorities are working to cut unneces-
sary administration and costs for SMEs. 
Solutions include streamlining permit 
and  inspection  procedures,  avoiding 
duplicate  requests  for  information, 
introducing IT tools and closer coop-
eration with environmental regulators 
from around Europe. 

The  best  support  actions  to  imple-
ment  environmental  legislation  from 
around  the  EU  will  be  identifi ed  and 
disseminated, and there will be closer 
consultation  with  the  SME  sector  in 
future when drawing up policies.

EMAS – to suit you

Environmental management systems, 
such as the EU’s Eco-Management and 
Audit Scheme (EMAS), help  businesses 
evaluate,  report  and  improve  their 
en vironmental  performances.  They 
ensure that a company meets environ-
mental legislation requirements, avoids 
fi nes and prevents costly clean-ups.

Even though EMAS is designed for or-
ganisations of all kinds and sizes, the 
Commission is aware that SMEs need 
simple, low-cost solutions. This is why 
the  ECAP  programme  is  focusing  on 
environmental  management  systems 
 tailor-made  for  SMEs,  such  as  EMAS 
Easy.

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/
emas/index_en.htm

Targeted funding

SMEs  need  financial  incentives  and 
support in order to adopt or develop 
the  most  innovative  envir onmental 
technologies  and  business  practices. 
Specifi c funding is available for SMEs 
and environment for the 2007-13  period. 
A number of  instruments are available 
to help them comply with legislation, 
make  eco-friendly products, use clean-
er technology, save energy or take part 
in research projects.

Getting the message across

Improved  information  and  targeted 
communication can tackle the lack of 
general  awareness  of  environmental 
issues  among  SMEs.  A  specifi c  ECAP 
website, available in seven languages, 
is the gateway to information for sup-
port networks on environmental policy 
and SMEs.

The  Commission  is  also  developing 
other  information  tools,  giving  prior-
ity  to  the  needs  of  SMEs.  For  current 
initiatives,  please  check  the  SME  and 
Environment website regularly.

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